Daily Readings - Mon Aug 18 2025
Judges
11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:12And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.14And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.15Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.16Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.17And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.18And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.19And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
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 narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the distractions that can lead us astray. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring struggle with faithfulness. After Joshua's era, they face the temptation of surrounding cultures and their gods, leading them into cycles of sin, oppression, and redemption through judges. Despite God's mercy, the Israelites repeatedly turn back to idolatry, highlighting the human tendency to drift from divine guidance.
The Gospel presents a different yet related challenge. A wealthy young man asks Jesus about achieving eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, which the man has kept, but then issues a deeper challenge: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man's sorrow reveals the grip his wealth has on him, illustrating how earthly attachments can hinder spiritual growth. This story underscores Jesus' teaching that following Him requires prioritizing heavenly treasures over worldly ones.
Both readings remind us to examine our lives for modern "idols"—whether materialism, technology, or other distractions. They call us to trust in God's providence and to evaluate what might be holding us back from a deeper relationship with Him. Let us reflect on our attachments and consider what we might need to let go of to find true treasure in heaven.