Daily Readings - Wed Aug 14 2019
Deuteronomy
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.
Matthew
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 encounter two significant moments in the history of God's people, each offering profound insights into leadership, community, and faith. The first reading from Deuteronomy 34:1-12 describes Moses' final moments, where he is shown the Promised Land but does not enter it. This scene marks the end of an era, as Moses, the great leader, passes on, and Joshua takes up the mantle, guided by the wisdom imparted by Moses. The Israelites mourn Moses, acknowledging his pivotal role, yet they also look forward under Joshua's leadership.
The Gospel from Matthew 18:15-20 shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on conflict resolution and community dynamics. Jesus outlines a structured approach to addressing sins within the community: starting privately, then involving a few others, and finally the whole Church. This process emphasizes reconciliation and the binding authority of communal decisions. Jesus also assures that where two or three gather in His name, He is present, highlighting the sacred nature of communal gatherings.
These readings remind us of the importance of community and reconciliation in our daily lives. Just as Moses trusted God's plan despite not entering the Promised Land, we must trust in God's larger plan, even when our own roles seem limited. The structured approach to conflict resolution in the Gospel encourages us to seek reconciliation and value collective wisdom. Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: our faith journey is not solitary but communal, and we are called to live in harmony, guided by God's presence among us.