Daily Readings - Tue Aug 18 2020
Ezekiel
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:3Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:4With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:5By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;7Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.8They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.9Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.10Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
Matthew
23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dangers of pride and the importance of humility. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a prophetic condemnation of the king of Tyre, who has allowed his wealth and power to lead him into arrogance. Ezekiel warns that the king’s pride has blinded him to his true nature as a human being, and his refusal to acknowledge God’s sovereignty will lead to his downfall. This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the necessity of remaining humble in the face of God’s greatness.
In the Gospel, Jesus continues this theme when he speaks to his disciples about the challenges of wealth. He famously says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of heaven. This teaching shocks the disciples, who struggle to understand how anyone can be saved if wealth is such an obstacle. Jesus reassures them that while this may seem impossible from a human perspective, with God, all things are possible. Peter then asks about the reward for those who have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus responds by promising eternal life and a share in the glory of the kingdom to those who have sacrificed for his name. He also reminds them that many who seem first in this world will be last in the next.
These readings remind us that true greatness in God’s eyes is not measured by wealth, status, or power, but by humility and trust in God. The king of Tyre fell because he forgot that his strength and wisdom were gifts from God, not qualities he could claim as his own. Similarly, Jesus warns that attachment to material possessions can blind us to what truly matters. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we allowing pride or materialism to take the place of God? Let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. Let us also remember that true fulfillment and joy come not from what we possess, but from living in accordance with God’s will and trusting in his providence.