Daily Readings - Mon Feb 27 2023
Leviticus
1The LORD said to Moses,2"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.11"'Do not steal. "'Do not lie. "'Do not deceive one another.12"'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.13"'Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. "'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.14"'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.15"'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.16"'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.17"'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.18"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between holiness and compassion. In the first reading from Leviticus, God calls the Israelites to live as His holy people by avoiding sin and injustice. He commands them not to steal, lie, or oppress others, emphasizing the importance of treating neighbors with justice and respect. This passage is part of the Holiness Code, a set of laws that guide the Israelites in living as a people set apart for God. The heart of these laws is not just ritual purity but a way of life that reflects God’s character—holy, just, and merciful.
In the Gospel, Jesus paints a vivid picture of the Final Judgment, where nations are separated like sheep and goats. The criterion for judgment is not religious observance or knowledge but how people treated the most vulnerable: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Those who served the least among them served Jesus Himself, while those who ignored them rejected Jesus. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated in actions of love and compassion. The surprising twist is that many will be unaware that their care for the marginalized was care for Christ.
These readings together call us to reflect on how we live out our faith. Holiness is not just about avoiding sin; it is about actively loving and serving others, especially those in need. In our daily lives, we are invited to see Christ in the faces of those around us—perhaps in a neighbor who feels lonely, a coworker who is struggling, or someone in our community who is overlooked. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is measured by our love and compassion. Let us ask ourselves today: How can I serve Christ in the people I encounter? How can I live in a way that reflects God’s holiness and mercy? May we strive to be holy by loving and serving others, for in doing so, we love and serve the Lord Himself.