Daily Readings - Sat Aug 05 2023
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 powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on justice, integrity, and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Leviticus describes the Jubilee year, a time of liberation and restoration. Every 50 years, debts were forgiven, land was returned to its original owners, and society was renewed. This practice was rooted in the belief that all creation belongs to God, and it served as a reminder to trust in God’s provision rather than human wealth and power. The Jubilee was a call to live in harmony with God’s will, ensuring that no one was perpetually oppressed or marginalized.
The Gospel reading presents a stark contrast with the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Herod, driven by fear and pride, silenced John for speaking the truth about his unlawful marriage. This tragic event highlights the consequences of sin and the misuse of power. John’s unwavering commitment to justice, even in the face of death, stands as a testament to the importance of integrity and standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult.
These readings remind us that living a life of faith requires both justice and integrity. Like the Jubilee, we are called to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, free from oppression. Like John the Baptist, we must be willing to stand up for truth, even when it challenges those in power. In our daily lives, this means advocating for fairness, protecting the vulnerable, and trusting in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us strive to live with the courage of John and the compassion of the Jubilee, trusting that God will guide us in building a more just and loving world.