Daily Readings - Mon Mar 02 2020
Leviticus
1The LORD said to Moses,2"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.11"'Do not steal. "'Do not lie. "'Do not deceive one another.12"'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.13"'Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. "'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.14"'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.15"'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.16"'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.17"'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.18"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our actions. The first reading from Leviticus calls us to holiness, emphasizing the importance of ethical living and treating others with justice and compassion. The commands given to the Israelites—such as not stealing, not lying, and not oppressing others—serve as a blueprint for living a life that reflects God’s holiness. These instructions are not just about individual morality but about fostering a community where everyone is valued and respected. The reading challenges us to examine our daily interactions and ensure that our words and actions align with God’s command to “be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
The Gospel from Matthew expands on this theme, presenting a vivid image of the final judgment. Jesus separates people into two groups: the sheep who served the hungry, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned, and the goats who neglected these vulnerable individuals. The key insight here is that our relationship with God is revealed in how we treat those in need. Jesus identifies himself with the least among us, teaching that even the smallest acts of kindness are acts of love for him. This passage is not about earning salvation through good deeds but about recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through compassion and service to others.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. The commands in Leviticus and the parable in Matthew call us to be attentive to the needs of those around us and to act with love and justice. In our daily lives, this might mean volunteering, advocating for the marginalized, or simply being present for a neighbor in need. The moral lesson is clear: our relationship with God is not just about what we believe but about how we live out those beliefs in service to others. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I treating those around me? Am I seeing Christ in the faces of those I encounter? May we strive to live with the holiness and compassion that God calls us to, knowing that our actions have eternal significance.