Daily Readings - Tue Aug 11 2020
Ezekiel
8But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
1Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.2So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.4And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
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 the call to humility and the responsibility of caring for one another in God’s kingdom. In the first reading, Ezekiel is commissioned by God to speak to the people of Israel, despite their resistance. He is given a scroll to eat, symbolizing the Word of God, which becomes sweet in his mouth but also a heavy burden to carry. This passage emphasizes the prophet’s role as a messenger of God’s truth, even when the message is difficult to hear. Ezekiel’s call reminds us that we, too, are called to share God’s Word, though it may require courage and perseverance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples about the humility required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Using the image of a little child, he shows that greatness in God’s eyes comes not from power or status, but from simplicity, trust, and openness to God. Jesus also warns against despising the “little ones,” emphasizing that each person is precious in God’s sight. The parable of the lost sheep reinforces this message, highlighting the joy of finding what was lost and the Father’s desire that none be lost. Together, these passages call us to live with humility, compassion, and a deep concern for the well-being of others.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to embrace humility and to care for those around us, especially those who are vulnerable or marginalized. Like Ezekiel, we are called to share God’s truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Like the disciples, we are invited to approach life with the simplicity and trust of a child, recognizing the dignity and worth of every person. May we strive to live in a way that reflects God’s love and concern for all, especially those who feel lost or forgotten.