Daily Readings - Mon Aug 21 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Judges, we see the recurring pattern of the Israelites turning away from God to follow false idols and foreign gods. This infidelity leads to their downfall, as God allows them to be oppressed by their enemies. Yet, in his mercy, God raises up judges to rescue them, only for the cycle to repeat itself after each judge’s death. This passage reminds us of the consequences of spiritual infidelity and the importance of remaining faithful to God’s covenant.
In the Gospel, we encounter a young man who approaches Jesus, seeking eternal life. Jesus lists the commandments, emphasizing the importance of living a morally upright life. The young man claims to have kept all these commandments since childhood, but Jesus challenges him further: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. The young man, attached to his wealth, walks away sorrowfully. This encounter highlights the difficulty of letting go of worldly attachments and the radical commitment required to follow Christ.
Both readings call us to examine our own lives. Like the Israelites, we may often turn to false idols—whether material possessions, comfort, or other distractions—that pull us away from God. Like the rich young man, we may think we are living virtuous lives, but we are called to go further, to let go of whatever hinders our relationship with God. True freedom and happiness come not from wealth or possessions but from wholehearted devotion to God. Let us ask ourselves: What are the “possessions” in our lives that keep us from following Christ more closely? May we trust in God’s promise of eternal life and have the courage to let go, that we might find true treasure in heaven.