Daily Readings - Tue Aug 16 2022
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons on pride and humility. Ezekiel’s oracle against the leader of Tyre condemns the arrogance of one who claimed divinity, leading to his downfall. This serves as a warning against the dangers of pride, which blinds us to our true nature and leads to ruin. In contrast, Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus teaching on the challenges of wealth and the rewards of humility. He emphasizes that while wealth can be an obstacle to salvation, true riches lie in following Him, promising eternal life to those who surrender worldly attachments.
Both readings highlight the importance of humility. Ezekiel’s prophecy illustrates how pride can lead to destruction, while Jesus’ teachings show that humility is essential for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. The leader of Tyre’s demise contrasts sharply with the disciples’ willingness to leave everything behind for Jesus, demonstrating that true greatness comes from humility and trust in God.
In our daily lives, these lessons remind us to cultivate humility and avoid the pitfalls of pride. We are called to recognize our limitations and trust in God’s providence. Let us reflect on our own lives, ensuring that our hearts remain humble and our priorities aligned with God’s will. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to God’s grace and the promise of eternal life.