Daily Readings - Tue Aug 21 2018
Ezekiel
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:3Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:4With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:5By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;7Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.8They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.9Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.10Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
Matthew
23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dangers of pride and the illusion of self-sufficiency, while also offering hope in God’s providence and the promise of eternal life. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a prophetic condemnation of the leader of Tyre, who has become so enamored with his own power and wisdom that he claims to be like God. Ezekiel warns that such arrogance will lead to a fall, as God will send foreigners to humble him. This passage reminds us that no matter how accomplished or powerful we may become, we are still human, and our strength and wisdom are gifts from God, not our own creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the challenges of wealth and the kingdom of heaven. He says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God. This startling statement shocks the disciples, who wonder how anyone can be saved if wealth is such an obstacle. Jesus responds by emphasizing that while this is impossible for humans, it is possible with God. Peter then asks what will happen to those who have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus assures them that they will be rewarded abundantly in eternal life. However, he also warns that many who seem first in this world will be last in the kingdom, and the last will be first.
These readings are connected by the theme of humility and trust in God. Ezekiel’s warning against pride and Jesus’ teaching on wealth both call us to recognize our limitations and to rely on God rather than our own strength or possessions. In our daily lives, we are tempted to trust in what we can see and control—our wealth, our achievements, our status. But the readings remind us that true strength comes from humility and faith. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize our dependence on God, or do we act as if we are self-sufficient? Are we willing to let go of worldly attachments to follow Christ more closely? The promise of eternal life is not about what we have, but about who we trust. May we learn to trust in God’s providence and to live with humility, knowing that true greatness is found in serving others and following Christ.