Daily Readings - Sat Aug 14 2021
Joshua
14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.16And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;17For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:18And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.19And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.20If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.21And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.22And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.24And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.26And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.27And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.28So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
Matthew
13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of commitment, humility, and the sincerity of our relationship with God. The first reading from Joshua presents a pivotal moment in the history of the Israelites. Having entered the Promised Land, Joshua calls the people to renew their covenant with God. He challenges them to make a conscious choice to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, rejecting the idols of their past. Joshua’s words are both a warning and an invitation: to recognize the holiness and jealousy of God, who demands our undivided loyalty. The people, moved by the memory of God’s faithfulness, commit themselves to serve the Lord, and Joshua seals this covenant with a stone of witness.
In the Gospel, we encounter a different kind of moment. Jesus is approached by parents seeking his blessing for their children. While the disciples try to dismiss them, Jesus insists that the children come to him. He declares that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these little ones—humble, trusting, and unencumbered by the complexities of adulthood. This scene reminds us that our relationship with God is not about power or status but about simplicity, openness, and a childlike dependence on Him.
These readings are connected by the theme of wholehearted commitment to God. Joshua calls the people to reject idols and serve the Lord sincerely, while Jesus teaches us that humility and childlike faith are essential for entering the kingdom. Together, they invite us to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we allowing anything—whether it be pride, distractions, or worldly attachments—to come between us and God? Do we approach Him with the humility and trust of a child?
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What are the “idols” in our lives that compete for our allegiance? How can we, like Joshua and the Israelites, renew our commitment to serve the Lord with sincerity? And how can we cultivate the humility and openness of children in our relationship with God? May we, like the people at Shechem, choose today whom we will serve, and may we, like the children in the Gospel, find the kingdom of heaven in our midst.