Daily Readings - Tue Aug 22 2023
Judges
11And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.17And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.18Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.19And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.20And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.21Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.22And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.23And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.24Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
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 profound lessons on faith and trust in God. The first reading from Judges introduces us to Gideon, a man who feels inadequate and uncertain when called by God. Despite his doubts, Gideon is assured of God's presence and empowerment, leading him to trust beyond his own limitations. The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching on the challenges of wealth and the rewards of discipleship, emphasizing that while human efforts may seem insufficient, God's power can overcome all obstacles.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust in God's plan. Gideon's story shows that God often chooses the humble and the weak to accomplish great things, teaching us to rely on His strength rather than our own. Jesus' teachings remind us that attachment to material wealth can hinder our spiritual journey, urging us to prioritize eternal values over earthly possessions. Together, these passages encourage us to embrace humility and trust in God's providence, even when we feel overwhelmed or lacking.
In our daily lives, these lessons invite us to reflect on where we place our trust. Like Gideon, we may face challenges that seem insurmountable, but God is always with us, ready to guide and empower. Like the disciples, we are called to let go of worldly attachments and follow Jesus with courage and faith. The moral lesson here is one of humility and trust: recognizing our limitations and placing our confidence in God's infinite power and love. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative grace that allows us to live beyond our own strength and to serve others with the heart of Christ.