Daily Readings - Mon Aug 18 2025
Judges
11And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.12And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.13They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.14So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.15Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.17Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.18Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.19But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
Matthew
16And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."18He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."20The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the distractions that can lead us astray. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring struggle with faithfulness. After Joshua's era, they face the temptation of surrounding cultures and their gods, leading them into cycles of sin, oppression, and redemption through judges. Despite God's mercy, the Israelites repeatedly turn back to idolatry, highlighting the human tendency to drift from divine guidance.
The Gospel presents a different yet related challenge. A wealthy young man asks Jesus about achieving eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, which the man has kept, but then issues a deeper challenge: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man's sorrow reveals the grip his wealth has on him, illustrating how earthly attachments can hinder spiritual growth. This story underscores Jesus' teaching that following Him requires prioritizing heavenly treasures over worldly ones.
Both readings remind us to examine our lives for modern "idols"—whether materialism, technology, or other distractions. They call us to trust in God's providence and to evaluate what might be holding us back from a deeper relationship with Him. Let us reflect on our attachments and consider what we might need to let go of to find true treasure in heaven.