Daily Readings - Mon Aug 18 2025
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
In today's readings, we encounter two narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the distractions that can lead us astray. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring struggle with faithfulness. After Joshua's era, they face the temptation of surrounding cultures and their gods, leading them into cycles of sin, oppression, and redemption through judges. Despite God's mercy, the Israelites repeatedly turn back to idolatry, highlighting the human tendency to drift from divine guidance.
The Gospel presents a different yet related challenge. A wealthy young man asks Jesus about achieving eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, which the man has kept, but then issues a deeper challenge: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man's sorrow reveals the grip his wealth has on him, illustrating how earthly attachments can hinder spiritual growth. This story underscores Jesus' teaching that following Him requires prioritizing heavenly treasures over worldly ones.
Both readings remind us to examine our lives for modern "idols"—whether materialism, technology, or other distractions. They call us to trust in God's providence and to evaluate what might be holding us back from a deeper relationship with Him. Let us reflect on our attachments and consider what we might need to let go of to find true treasure in heaven.