Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 11, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4.32-40
32Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?33Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?34Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?35You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.36From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.37Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,38to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.39Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.40Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.
Psalm 77
1I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.2When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.3I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah4You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.5I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;6I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired:7"Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?8Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?9Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" Selah10Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High."11I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.12I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.13Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?14You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.15With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah16The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.17The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.18Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.19Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.20You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Gospel: Matthew 16.24-28
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, commitment, and the ultimate purpose of our lives. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites of the extraordinary ways God has revealed Himself to them—through mighty deeds, signs, and wonders. He calls them to remember that the Lord is the one true God, who has chosen them and led them out of slavery into a promised land. Moses urges them to keep God’s commandments and to trust in His providence, for their well-being and longevity in the land depend on it. This passage emphasizes the uniqueness of God’s relationship with His people and the importance of fidelity to His covenant.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes this theme of fidelity to a deeper level. He tells His disciples that following Him requires self-denial, taking up one’s cross, and losing one’s life for His sake. Jesus is not speaking metaphorically; He is preparing them for the ultimate sacrifice He will make and the sacrifices they, too, will be called to endure. He warns that the pursuit of worldly gain, without regard for God, is empty and destructive. True life, Jesus says, is found in surrendering to His will and trusting in His plan. The passage ends with a reminder that some of those listening will see the glory of the kingdom before they die, a promise that blends the imminence of God’s reign with the call to perseverance.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s plan and living in accordance with His will. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are called to remember God’s past actions and to obey His commandments. In Matthew, the disciples are called to embrace a life of self-sacrifice and faith in the face of uncertainty. Together, they remind us that our lives are not our own; they are part of a larger story shaped by God’s love and providence. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, we are invited to imitate the Israelites’ trust in God’s covenant and the disciples’ willingness to follow Jesus, even when the path is difficult. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects our commitment to God? Are we willing to let go of our own desires and ambitions for the sake of His kingdom? May we find the courage to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him, trusting that true life is found in losing ourselves for His sake.