Daily Readings - Mon Aug 19 2024
Ezekiel
15Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.17Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.18So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.19And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?20Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,21Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.22And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.23And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.24Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Matthew
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound stories that invite us to reflect on faith, sacrifice, and the call to follow God wholeheartedly. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a striking scene where the prophet is commanded by God not to mourn the death of his wife. This was not just a personal tragedy but a symbolic act meant to convey a message to the people of Israel. Ezekiel’s wife was the “desire of his eyes,” and her sudden loss was a sign of the devastating losses Israel would soon face—losses that would leave them without their temple, their children, and their sense of security. Ezekiel’s obedience to God’s command, despite his grief, becomes a powerful lesson in trust and faith. He is called to embody the suffering of his people and to point them to the ultimate truth: that sin has consequences, but God’s judgment is always an invitation to repentance and restoration.
In the Gospel, we meet a young man who approaches Jesus with a question about eternal life. He is wealthy and has kept the commandments since childhood, but when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow him, he hesitates. This story is not just about wealth; it’s about the human heart’s tendency to cling to what is familiar and comfortable. The young man’s sadness reveals the depth of his attachment to his possessions and the security they represent. Jesus is not condemning wealth itself but inviting the young man—and us—to examine where our true treasure lies. The call to follow Jesus is a call to radical love and trust, one that requires us to let go of anything that holds us back from living fully for God.
Both readings challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are there things in our lives that we hold onto so tightly that they prevent us from following God more freely? Ezekiel’s story reminds us that faith often requires sacrifice and trust in God’s plan, even when it’s difficult to understand. The rich young man’s story invites us to consider where our hearts are rooted—whether in the fleeting comforts of this world or in the eternal promises of God. Let us ask ourselves: What is the “treasure” we are clinging to? What is the “desire of our eyes” that we may need to surrender? In letting go, we open ourselves to the possibility of a deeper relationship with God and a life lived in true freedom and joy.