Daily Readings - Sat Jul 31 2021
Leviticus
1The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,8"'Count off seven sabbaths of years-seven times seven years-so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years.9Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.10Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.11The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.12For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.13"'In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.14"'If you sell land to one of your countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other.15You are to buy from your countryman on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And he is to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops.16When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what he is really selling you is the number of crops.17Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.
Matthew
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her."5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted10and had John beheaded in the prison.11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on justice, integrity, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from Leviticus presents the Jubilee year, a time of renewal and restoration. Every 50 years, debts were forgiven, land was returned to its original owners, and society was reset to ensure equality and fairness. This practice was rooted in the belief that all things belong to God, and it served as a reminder of God’s justice and mercy. The Jubilee was not just an economic or social policy but a spiritual imperative, calling the people to trust in God’s providence and to live in harmony with one another.
The Gospel reading from Matthew contrasts this vision of justice with a story of grave injustice. Herod, influenced by his own desires and the manipulations of Herodias, has John the Baptist beheaded. John had spoken truth to power, calling Herod to account for his sinful actions, and this cost him his life. This passage reminds us that living according to God’s will can sometimes lead to suffering, but it also highlights the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. John’s martyrdom is a testament to the enduring power of truth and the ultimate triumph of God’s justice over human corruption.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our daily lives. The Jubilee year calls us to consider how we treat others, especially those in need, and to strive for fairness and compassion in all our interactions. John the Baptist’s courage in the face of death reminds us to stand firm in our commitment to justice and to trust in God’s plan, even when the consequences are difficult. May we, like John, have the strength to speak truth and, like the Jubilee, create spaces of renewal and reconciliation in our world.