Daily Readings - Mon Aug 16 2021
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 powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the world around us. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance. Despite God's mercy and the leadership of judges, they repeatedly turn away from Him, embracing idols and suffering the consequences. This narrative highlights the human tendency to forget God's faithfulness and succumb to worldly allurements.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a young man who approaches Jesus, eager to know what he must do to attain eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, and the young man claims to have kept them since childhood. Yet, when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow Him, he hesitates, burdened by his wealth. This encounter underscores the challenge of detachment from material possessions and the deeper call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Both readings relate through the theme of attachment to worldly things. The Israelites in Judges are lured by foreign gods, while the young man in Matthew is held back by his wealth. These stories remind us that our fidelity to God is tested by our willingness to let go of what distracts us from Him. In our daily lives, we may find ourselves attached to various desires or possessions that hinder our full surrender to God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider what holds us back from following Christ more closely. True discipleship requires more than outward obedience; it demands a willingness to release whatever stands in the way of our relationship with God. The moral lesson here is clear: detachment and surrender are essential for a life of deeper faith and commitment. May we, like the judges of old, turn to God with humble hearts, ready to let go and follow Him faithfully.