Daily Readings - Tue Aug 09 2022
Ezekiel
8But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
1Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.2So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.4And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
Matthew
1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into our spiritual journey. Ezekiel's vision of the scroll symbolizes the acceptance of God's message, which, though it may seem bitter at first, becomes sweet as we embrace it. This transformation reminds us that God's word, even when challenging, is a gift that nourishes our souls and compels us to share it with others.
Matthew's Gospel complements this by emphasizing humility and compassion. Jesus uses a child to illustrate the need for humility, teaching us that to enter the kingdom, we must become like little ones—trusting and pure of heart. The parable of the lost sheep underscores God's deep care for each individual, especially the vulnerable, reflecting His desire that none be lost.
These readings connect through themes of mission and compassion. Ezekiel's call to prophesy and Jesus' teachings on humility and care for others remind us of our responsibilities. We are called to embrace our mission with humility, whether it's sharing God's word or caring for those around us. In our daily lives, this means approaching challenges with openness and serving others with love, trusting that God's grace will transform our efforts into something sweet and fruitful.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace our roles with humility and compassion, remembering that each person is cherished by God. May we, like Ezekiel, receive God's message with openness and, like the Good Shepherd, care for every lost sheep, trusting in God's transformative power.