Daily Readings - Fri Aug 16 2019
Joshua
1Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.2Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods.3But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.5"'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.6When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.7But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.8"'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.9When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you.10But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.11"'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands.12I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you-also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.13So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.'
Matthew
3Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"4"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'5and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."7"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"8Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.9I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."10The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."11Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the importance of fidelity and commitment, both to God and to one another. Joshua gathers the Israelites to recount their history, highlighting God's faithfulness and deliverance. He challenges them to choose whom they will serve, emphasizing the need for unwavering commitment to God. This passage serves as a covenant renewal, urging the people to remain faithful and mindful of God's presence in their lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus discusses the sacred covenant of marriage, teaching that it is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. He emphasizes that marriage is not to be taken lightly, and while Moses allowed divorce due to human hardness, it was not God's original intent. Jesus extends this teaching to include celibacy, noting that not all may embrace it, but it is a calling for some. Both readings underscore the significance of keeping commitments made before God.
As we reflect on these teachings, we are called to examine our own commitments and relationships. Whether in our faith journey or in our personal relationships, fidelity is essential. Let us strive to mirror God's faithfulness in our lives, nurturing our relationships with love, respect, and perseverance. May we remain steadfast in our commitments, reflecting the enduring covenant God has made with us.