Daily Readings - Mon Aug 17 2020
Ezekiel
15Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.17Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.18So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.19And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?20Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,21Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.22And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.23And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.24Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Matthew
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and surrender. Ezekiel, in the first reading, is called by God to endure the loss of his wife without mourning, serving as a sign to the Israelites of the impending desolation of the Temple. This act symbolizes the people's spiritual exile and their need to recognize their sins. Ezekiel's obedience, despite personal grief, illustrates unwavering trust in God's plan.
In the Gospel, a rich young man seeks eternal life and is told by Jesus to follow the commandments and then to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man's hesitation reveals the struggle between outward righteousness and inner attachment to wealth. This story highlights the challenge of complete surrender to God's will.
These readings remind us to trust in God's providence, even in difficult circumstances, and to examine our attachments. Ezekiel's obedience and the young man's hesitation teach us that true discipleship requires sacrifice and detachment. Let us reflect on our own lives, letting go of what hinders our relationship with God, and trust in His divine plan.