Daily Readings - Wed Aug 12 2020
Ezekiel
1Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, "Bring the guards of the city here, each with a weapon in his hand."2And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.3Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side4and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."5As I listened, he said to the others, "Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion.6Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.7Then he said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
18Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.19While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the LORD 's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim.21Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like the hands of a man.22Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead.
Matthew
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound lessons on judgment, mercy, and community. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a vision of divine judgment where the faithful are marked and spared, while the unrepentant face consequences. This vision, occurring during the Babylonian exile, underscores God’s justice and the importance of remaining faithful amidst turmoil. The Gospel from Matthew shifts focus to community dynamics, offering a structured approach to conflict resolution and emphasizing the power of united prayer.
Both readings, though distinct, intertwine themes of judgment and mercy. Ezekiel’s vision highlights God’s justice and the sparing of the faithful, while Matthew’s teaching provides a communal process for addressing sin, encouraging reconciliation. Together, they remind us that while God is just, His mercy is ever-present, inviting us to repentance and unity.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to balance justice with mercy, both individually and communally. We are urged to hold each other accountable with love, as Matthew suggests, and to recognize the consequences of our actions, as Ezekiel illustrates. The readings also remind us of the power of prayer and unity in achieving God’s will. Let us strive to live with integrity, seeking justice tempered by mercy, and fostering a community where God’s presence is palpable through our united efforts.