Daily Readings - Fri Aug 17 2018
First Reading - Ezekiel 16.1-15, 60, 63 or Ezekiel 16.59-63
Ezekiel
1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,2Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.5None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.6And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.7I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.11I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.12And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.13Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.15But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.63That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel
59For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.61Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.62And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:63That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
Matthew
3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on covenant and fidelity. Ezekiel’s prophecy uses a vivid metaphor to describe Jerusalem’s journey from abandonment to being nurtured by God, only to become unfaithful. This serves as a stark reminder of the people’s covenant with God, highlighting the consequences of infidelity. In Matthew, Jesus addresses the indissolubility of marriage, emphasizing that it is a sacred covenant reflecting God’s enduring love. He teaches that divorce is only justified in cases of adultery, underscoring the seriousness of breaking such a commitment.
Both readings are set in contexts where relationships are tested. Ezekiel speaks to a people in exile, using a harsh metaphor to convey their spiritual unfaithfulness. Matthew’s context is Jesus being challenged by Pharisees on divorce, a controversial issue of the time. Both passages stress the importance of faithfulness and the gravity of breaking covenants, whether with God or a spouse.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our commitments. Fidelity in relationships, whether with God or others, requires perseverance and self-sacrifice. Just as God remains faithful despite our failings, we are called to uphold our promises. The moral lesson here is clear: true love and commitment demand unwavering dedication. May we strive to honor our covenants, mirroring God’s steadfast love, and seek grace to remain faithful in all our relationships.