Daily Readings - Mon Aug 13 2018
Ezekiel
2In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,3The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.24And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.25And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.26And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.27And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Matthew
22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?25He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound visions and humble acts that invite us to reflect on God’s presence and purpose in our lives. Ezekiel’s vision of the whirlwind and the four living creatures is a dramatic display of God’s power and majesty, while Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection, followed by the miracle of the fish with the shekel, reveals His divine wisdom and humility. Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or challenging.
Ezekiel’s vision was a message of hope to the exiles in Babylon, reminding them that God’s presence was still with them, even in their suffering. Similarly, Jesus’ words to His disciples were a test of their faith, urging them to trust in His divine plan despite the sorrow it would bring. The miracle of the fish with the shekel shows Jesus’ willingness to fulfill the law while also demonstrating His power over creation. These readings remind us that God’s ways are not always easy to understand, but they are always rooted in love and wisdom.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. May we approach life with humility, recognizing that our struggles are not without purpose. Just as Ezekiel and the disciples were called to faith, so too are we. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our trust in God’s presence and providence, and may we find strength in the knowledge that He is always with us.