Daily Readings - Mon Aug 19 2019
Judges
11Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals.12They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger13because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.14In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.15Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.17Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the LORD 's commands.18Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.19But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Matthew
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."18"Which ones?" the man inquired.19Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God. The first reading from Judges recounts the cyclical pattern of the Israelites' disobedience, their subsequent suffering, and God's merciful deliverance through judges. This passage highlights the recurring theme of sin, repentance, and redemption in the history of God's people. The Israelites' turning away from God to serve idols reflects a deeper human tendency to seek comfort and security in fleeting earthly things rather than in the eternal and unchanging God.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a young man who approaches Jesus, seeking eternal life. Jesus responds by listing the commandments, emphasizing the importance of moral living. When the young man claims to have kept all these commandments, Jesus challenges him to go further: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. This exchange underscores the idea that while outward obedience to the law is necessary, true discipleship requires a radical commitment to God above all else. The young man's sadness reveals the difficulty of letting go of worldly attachments, even for one who has lived a virtuous life.
These readings together invite us to examine our own lives. Like the Israelites, we may find ourselves in cycles of sin and repentance, yet God remains faithful and merciful. Like the rich young man, we may outwardly follow the rules but struggle with deeper surrender. The moral lesson here is clear: following God demands more than superficial obedience; it requires a willingness to let go of everything that hinders our relationship with him. True freedom and fulfillment come not from clinging to earthly possessions or comforts but from trusting in God's providence and living with hearts fully surrendered to his will. Let us prayerfully consider where we may be holding back and ask for the grace to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly.