Daily Readings - Tue Aug 22 2017
Judges
11The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.12When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."13"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."14The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"15"But Lord, "Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."16The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."17Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.18Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."19Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.20The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.21With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"23But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."24So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Matthew
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will 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, an unlikely hero who is called by God to lead Israel against the Midianites. Despite his feelings of inadequacy and doubt, Gideon is reassured by the angel's presence and a miraculous sign, which strengthens his faith. This story reminds us that God often chooses the humble and the weak to accomplish great things, teaching us to trust in His plan even when we feel insignificant.
The Gospel reading from Matthew challenges our understanding of wealth and the kingdom of heaven. Jesus uses the striking image of a camel passing through a needle's eye to illustrate the difficulty of the wealthy entering heaven. This teaching shocks the disciples, as wealth was often seen as a blessing. However, Jesus emphasizes that while this may be impossible for humans, it is possible with God. He then reassures the disciples that their sacrifices will be rewarded, but also warns that worldly status does not guarantee heavenly reward. This teaches us to reevaluate our priorities, focusing on spiritual wealth and trust in God's providence.
Both readings call us to reflect on our trust in God and our priorities. Like Gideon, we may face challenges that make us doubt our abilities, but God's presence and promises can give us the courage to move forward. Similarly, Jesus' teaching on wealth reminds us to not be bound by material possessions, but to seek eternal rewards. Let us strive to trust in God's plan and prioritize spiritual wealth, knowing that He can make the impossible possible.