Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 16, 2017
First Reading: Deuteronomy 34.1-12
1And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,2And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,3And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.4And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.5So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.6And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.7And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.8And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.10And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,11In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,12And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
Psalm 66
1Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:2Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.4All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.5Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.6He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.7He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.8O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:9Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.10For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.11Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.12Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.13I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,14Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.15I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.16Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.17I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.18If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:19But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.20Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
Gospel: Matthew 18.15-20
15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we reflect on the themes of leadership, transition, and community, woven together by the thread of faith and obedience. The first reading from Deuteronomy brings us to the end of Moses’ journey, as he stands on Mount Nebo, gazing upon the Promised Land he would not enter. This moment is both a celebration of Moses’ faithfulness and a poignant reminder of the human condition—our limitations and the trust we must place in God’s plan. Moses, the great leader, dies in obedience to God’s will, and the mantle of leadership passes to Joshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. This transition reminds us that while individuals may fade, God’s work continues through others.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the dynamics of community life. Jesus teaches us how to handle conflicts with love and justice, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and the role of the community in maintaining harmony. The process of correcting a brother privately, then with witnesses, and finally involving the Church, reflects a deep respect for the dignity of each person and the need for accountability. Jesus also reminds us of the power of prayer and agreement in community, assuring us that when two or three gather in His name, He is present among them. This teaching invites us to see our relationships and conflicts as opportunities to grow in holiness and to seek God’s will together.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace both the humility of leadership and the responsibility of community. Like Moses, we must trust in God’s plan, even when we do not see the full picture. Like Joshua, we must step forward with courage, relying on the wisdom and grace God provides. And like the disciples, we must approach conflicts with love and seek reconciliation, remembering that our unity is a testament to God’s presence among us. Let us strive to live as people of faith, trusting in God’s plan, seeking harmony in our relationships, and gathering in prayer, knowing that Christ is always with us.