Daily Readings - Mon Mar 02 2020
Leviticus
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,2Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.11Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.12And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.13Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.14Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.15Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.17Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Matthew
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our actions. The first reading from Leviticus calls us to holiness, emphasizing the importance of ethical living and treating others with justice and compassion. The commands given to the Israelites—such as not stealing, not lying, and not oppressing others—serve as a blueprint for living a life that reflects God’s holiness. These instructions are not just about individual morality but about fostering a community where everyone is valued and respected. The reading challenges us to examine our daily interactions and ensure that our words and actions align with God’s command to “be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
The Gospel from Matthew expands on this theme, presenting a vivid image of the final judgment. Jesus separates people into two groups: the sheep who served the hungry, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned, and the goats who neglected these vulnerable individuals. The key insight here is that our relationship with God is revealed in how we treat those in need. Jesus identifies himself with the least among us, teaching that even the smallest acts of kindness are acts of love for him. This passage is not about earning salvation through good deeds but about recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through compassion and service to others.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. The commands in Leviticus and the parable in Matthew call us to be attentive to the needs of those around us and to act with love and justice. In our daily lives, this might mean volunteering, advocating for the marginalized, or simply being present for a neighbor in need. The moral lesson is clear: our relationship with God is not just about what we believe but about how we live out those beliefs in service to others. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I treating those around me? Am I seeing Christ in the faces of those I encounter? May we strive to live with the holiness and compassion that God calls us to, knowing that our actions have eternal significance.