Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 19, 2022
First Reading: Ezekiel 37.1-14
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.13And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Psalm 107
1O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.4They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.6Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.13Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.15Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.17Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;24These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.31Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.39Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.40He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.42The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of 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 metaphors and teachings that guide us toward a deeper understanding of spiritual life and love. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones paints a vivid picture of despair and hopelessness, yet it is transformed by the promise of God's Spirit. The bones, once lifeless, are rejuvenated through prophecy and the breath of life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God's Spirit can bring renewal and hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus simplifies the essence of the law into two commandments: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These teachings are not just rules but the foundation of a life lived in harmony with God and others. Just as Ezekiel's dry bones needed the Spirit to come to life, our spiritual lives are enlivened by embracing these commandments. Love becomes the breath that animates our faith, transforming us from being spiritually lifeless to vibrant followers of Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can embody this life-giving love in our daily lives. May we allow the Spirit to move through us, bringing life to those around us through acts of love and compassion. Just as God restored Israel, may we find restoration in our own lives by living out the commandments of love, thereby fostering a community that reflects the vibrant life of the Spirit.