Daily Readings - Sat Aug 05 2017
Leviticus
1The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,8"'Count off seven sabbaths of years-seven times seven years-so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years.9Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.10Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.11The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.12For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.13"'In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.14"'If you sell land to one of your countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other.15You are to buy from your countryman on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And he is to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops.16When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what he is really selling you is the number of crops.17Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.
Matthew
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her."5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted10and had John beheaded in the prison.11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of justice, integrity, and the consequences of our choices. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear about the Jubilee year, a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. This practice was meant to restore balance and equality among God’s people, ensuring that no one would be permanently disadvantaged. It was a reminder that everything belongs to God, and we are only stewards of His creation. The Jubilee year was not just an economic or social policy but a deeply spiritual one, calling the people to live in harmony with God’s will and to trust in His providence.
In the Gospel, we see a stark contrast as Herod’s story unfolds. Herod, influenced by his sinful desires and fear of losing face, orders the beheading of John the Baptist. John had spoken the truth, calling out Herod’s immoral union with his brother’s wife, and for that, he paid the ultimate price. This passage reminds us of the cost of integrity and the dangers of allowing sin to take root in our hearts. Herod’s actions were driven by pride and fear, leading to a tragic outcome that could have been avoided if he had chosen to repent and seek justice.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Like the Jubilee, we are called to live in a way that promotes fairness, compassion, and trust in God’s plan. We must not let sin and pride guide our decisions, as Herod did, but instead, we must strive to live with integrity, even when it is difficult. In our daily lives, this might mean standing up for what is right, even if it is unpopular, or letting go of grudges and injustices, just as the Jubilee required. Let us pray for the courage to follow God’s will and to trust in His justice, remembering that true freedom comes from living in harmony with His commandments.