Daily Readings - Mon Aug 08 2022

²On the fifth of the month-it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin-³the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was upon him.⁴I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north-an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,⁵and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man,²⁴When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.²⁵Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings.²⁶Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.²⁷I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.²⁸Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Matthew

Chapter 17

²²When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.²³They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief.²⁴After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"²⁵"Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?"²⁶"From others," Peter answered.²⁷"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s presence and the call to live in faith and obedience. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we encounter a dramatic vision of God’s glory—a whirlwind, a great cloud, and four living creatures surrounding a throne. This vision is not just a display of divine power but a call to Ezekiel to be a prophet, to speak God’s word to a people in exile. Ezekiel’s experience reminds us that God’s presence is both transcendent and immanent, a mystery that surpasses human understanding but also draws us into a relationship of trust and surrender. In the Gospel, we find Jesus teaching His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. This is the second time Jesus foretells His Passion, and it leaves the disciples deeply saddened. Yet, in the same passage, we see Jesus demonstrating His divine authority in a humble and unexpected way. When asked about the temple tax, Jesus provides the money through a miraculous sign—a shekel found in the mouth of a fish. This act of obedience and provision shows that even in the face of suffering and death, God’s love and care for His people endure. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about avoiding difficulty but about trusting in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear. Ezekiel’s vision calls us to reverence and awe, while Jesus’ words and actions invite us to embrace humility and obedience. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith, trusting that God’s presence is with us, even in the midst of challenges. May we, like Ezekiel and the disciples, surrender to God’s will and find strength in His love and providence.