Daily Readings - Tue Aug 13 2024
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, Ezekiel is called by God to prophesy to the Israelites, symbolizing his mission through the act of eating a scroll. This act represents accepting God's message and the responsibility to share it, despite the challenges he may face. In Matthew, Jesus teaches the importance of humility and care for the vulnerable, using a child as an example. He emphasizes that humility is key to entering the kingdom of heaven and that each person is precious to God, much like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep.
Both readings highlight themes of humility and care. Ezekiel's call reflects the humility required to serve God, while Matthew's lesson underscores the value of each individual. The shepherd's dedication to finding the lost sheep illustrates God's love and concern for all people.
Applying these teachings to daily life, we are reminded to approach life with humility and compassion. We should value every person, especially the vulnerable, and strive to bring them closer to God. The moral lesson is clear: true greatness lies in humility and selfless care for others, reflecting God's love in our actions.