Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 20, 2020
First Reading: Ezekiel 36.23-28
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Psalm 51
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Gospel: Matthew 22.1-14
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.14For many are called, but few are chosen.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into God's grace and our response to it.
Ezekiel 36:23-28 speaks of God's promise to sanctify His name and restore His people. This passage, addressed to exiles, brings hope of renewal. God pledges to cleanse them, give them a new heart and spirit, and enable them to live according to His precepts. This is a message of divine initiative, where God takes the lead in transforming His people, making them holy and a source of His sanctified name among the nations.
Matthew 22:1-14 presents the parable of the wedding feast, where a king's invitation is repeatedly spurned, leading to the destruction of the unresponsive and the inclusion of the unexpected. This parable, directed at Jewish leaders, critiques their refusal of Jesus' invitation and highlights God's offer to all. The story emphasizes the importance of not just receiving the invitation but also being prepared, as the improperly dressed guest is cast out.
Connecting these readings, Ezekiel illustrates God's grace in cleansing and renewing, while Matthew underscores the need for an appropriate response. Ezekiel's new heart and spirit parallel the wedding garment in Matthew—both symbolize the transformation and readiness required to participate in God's kingdom.
In daily life, this means accepting God's invitation with humility and readiness. We must not be complacent but rather live in a way that reflects our commitment to God. This involves repentance, faith, and living guided by the Holy Spirit.
The moral lesson is clear: God's grace demands a response. We must clothe ourselves in the righteousness offered by Christ, ensuring we are prepared to enter the kingdom. Let us embrace God's invitation with gratitude and live in a manner that honors His grace.