Daily Readings - Tue Aug 13 2019
Deuteronomy
1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.4And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.5And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Matthew
1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to humility and care for one another. In the first reading, Moses, nearing the end of his life, encourages the Israelites to trust in God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land without him. He reminds them that God will go before them, fight for them, and remain with them always. This passage emphasizes the importance of faith and courage in the face of uncertainty. Moses also commissions Joshua as their new leader, assuring him that God will be with him just as He was with Moses. The reading reminds us that leadership is not about self-reliance but about trusting in God’s presence and guidance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples about the kingdom of heaven by using the example of a little child. He emphasizes that humility and openness, like that of a child, are essential for entering the kingdom. Jesus also warns against despising or neglecting the “little ones,” reminding us that each person, especially the vulnerable, is precious in God’s eyes. The parable of the lost sheep reinforces this message, showing that God’s love is not about the majority but about caring for each individual, even the one who has gone astray. This teaching challenges us to examine how we treat others, especially those who may seem insignificant or overlooked.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust and care. Moses trusts in God’s plan and encourages others to do the same, while Jesus teaches us to trust in God’s love and to care for one another, especially the vulnerable. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith in God’s presence, even when we face challenges or uncertainties. We are also reminded to approach life with humility and to treat everyone with dignity and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Do I trust in God’s plan for my life? Do I see the value and dignity in every person I encounter? May these readings inspire us to live with greater faith, humility, and love for one another.