Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 13, 2020
First Reading: Ezekiel 12.1-16
1The word of the LORD came to me:2"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.3"Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.4During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.5While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it.6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."7So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:9"Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you, 'What are you doing?'10"Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.'11Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.'"As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.12"The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die.14I will scatter to the winds all those around him-his staff and all his troops-and I will pursue them with drawn sword.15"They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
Psalm 78
1O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-3what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.4We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.5He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,6so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.7Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.8They would not be like their forefathers- a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.9The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle;10they did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law.11They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.12He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.13He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall.14He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.15He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas;16he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.17But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.19They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the desert?20When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?"21When the LORD heard them, he was very angry; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel,22for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.23Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens;24he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.25Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.26He let loose the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south wind by his power.27He rained meat down on them like dust, flying birds like sand on the seashore.28He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents.29They ate till they had more than enough, for he had given them what they craved.30But before they turned from the food they craved, even while it was still in their mouths,31God's anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel.32In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.33So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.34Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.35They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.36But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues;37their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.38Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.39He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.40How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved him in the wasteland!41Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel.42They did not remember his power- the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,43the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.44He turned their rivers to blood; they could not drink from their streams.45He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them.46He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust.47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet.48He gave over their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning.49He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility- a band of destroying angels.50He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague.51He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.52But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert.53He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies.54Thus he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken.55He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.56But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.57Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.58They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.59When God heard them, he was very angry; he rejected Israel completely.60He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men.61He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.62He gave his people over to the sword; he was very angry with his inheritance.63Fire consumed their young men, and their maidens had no wedding songs;64their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine.66He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame.67Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved.69He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;71from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.72And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
Gospel: Matthew 18.21 – 19.1
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
1When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about God's mercy and judgment. Ezekiel's prophetic actions symbolize the exile of Israel's leaders, using symbols like baggage and walls to depict their impending removal. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rebellion against God. In Matthew, Jesus emphasizes unlimited forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant, highlighting the necessity of extending mercy as we have received it.
Both readings underscore the balance between God's judgment and mercy. Ezekiel's message is set against a backdrop of rebellion, illustrating God's judgment on those who refuse to repent. Conversely, Matthew's parable shows the consequences of failing to extend forgiveness, reflecting the mercy God has shown us. Together, they call us to live as symbols of God's love, mindful of our actions and their impact.
In our daily lives, we are challenged to embody this balance. We must extend forgiveness freely, just as we have been forgiven, and live with humility and compassion. This call to faithfulness reminds us that our actions have eternal consequences, urging us to reflect God's mercy in all we do.