Daily Readings - Tue Aug 14 2018
Ezekiel
8But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,10which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.
1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel."2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.3Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.4He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.
Matthew
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2He called a little child and had him stand among them.3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Sermon
In today's readings, Ezekiel and Matthew present powerful messages about humility, compassion, and God's enduring love. Ezekiel is called by God to consume a scroll filled with lamentations, symbolizing his mission to deliver God's word to the Israelites. Despite the scroll's bitter content, it becomes sweet as honey, illustrating Ezekiel's acceptance of his prophetic role. This act underscores the importance of internalizing God's message and faithfully sharing it, even when challenging.
In Matthew, Jesus emphasizes humility and care for the vulnerable. Using a child as an example, He teaches that becoming like a child—humble and open—is essential to entering the kingdom of heaven. The parable of the lost sheep highlights God's joy in finding the lost, urging us to actively seek out those who have strayed. Both readings reflect God's deep concern for His people, Ezekiel focusing on delivering a message to bring people back to God, and Matthew on caring for each individual, especially the vulnerable.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are called to embrace humility and compassion. Like Ezekiel, we should be open to God's message and share it with others, even when difficult. Like the Good Shepherd, we must seek out those who are lost, reflecting God's love and care. The moral lesson is clear: humility and compassion are vital for living as followers of Christ, guiding us to care for others and remain faithful to God's will.