Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 20, 2021
First Reading: Ruth 1.1-2ab, 3-6, 14b-16, 22
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Psalm 146
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 22.34-40
34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38This is the first and great commandment.39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that illuminate the essence of love and loyalty, both towards God and our neighbors. The first reading from the Book of Ruth presents us with a poignant story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, set against the backdrop of loss and hardship. Naomi, having lost her husband and sons, is met with a profound act of devotion from her daughter-in-law Ruth, who chooses to remain by her side despite the challenges ahead. This narrative underscores the transformative power of love and fidelity, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the heart of Jesus’ teaching. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by emphasizing the dual nature of love: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This teaching is not merely a moral guideline but a profound revelation of God’s nature. Jesus makes it clear that these two commandments are the foundation of the entire law, highlighting that our relationship with God is inextricably linked to our relationship with others.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we embody love in our daily lives. Just as Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi was a testament to her faith, our commitment to loving God and neighbor must be more than a feeling—it must be a way of life. In a world often marked by division and self-interest, we are called to mirror God’s love through acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness. Let us strive to live out this dual commandment, allowing our love for God to overflow into our interactions with those around us, transforming our communities and our world.