Daily Readings - Mon Aug 14 2017

First Reading - Deuteronomy 10.12-22

¹²And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only that you fear the Lord your God, and walk in his ways, and love him, and serve the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul¹³and that you keep the commandments of the Lord, and his ceremonies, which I am instructing to you this day, so that it may be well with you¹⁴Lo, heaven belongs to the Lord your God, and the heaven of heaven, and the earth, and all the things that are within these¹⁵Now the Lord was closely joined to your fathers, and he loved them, and he chose their offspring after them, that is, you yourselves, out of all the nations, just as is being proven today¹⁶Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and no longer stiffen your neck¹⁷For the Lord your God himself is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a God great and powerful and terrible, who favors no person and accepts no bribe¹⁸He accomplishes judgment for the orphan and the widow. He loves the sojourner, and he gives him food as well as clothing¹⁹Therefore, you also should love sojourners, for you also were new arrivals in the land of Egypt²⁰You shall fear the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name²¹He is your praise and your God. He has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen²²As seventy souls, your fathers descended into Egypt. And now, behold, the Lord your God has multiplied you to be like the stars of heaven.

Gospel - Matthew 17.22-27

Matthew

Chapter 17

²²And when they were conversing together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: "The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men²³And they will kill him, but he will rise again on the third day." And they were extremely saddened²⁴And when they had arrived at Capernaum, those who collected the half shekel approached Peter, and they said to him, "Doesn’t your Teacher pay the half shekel?²⁵He said, "Yes." And when he had entered into the house, Jesus went before him, saying: "How does it seem to you, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they receive tribute or the census tax: from their own sons or from foreigners?²⁶And he said, "From foreigners." Jesus said to him: "Then the sons are free²⁷But so that we may not become an obstacle to them: go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that is brought up, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them, for me and for you.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reminders of God’s love, justice, and providence. The first reading from Deuteronomy calls us to live a life of fidelity to God, emphasizing that our relationship with Him is not just about rituals but about loving Him with our whole heart and soul. Moses reminds the Israelites—and us—that God’s ways are just and that He is a God who loves the vulnerable, including the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner. This passage invites us to reflect on how we live out our faith in tangible ways, especially in our treatment of others. The Gospel from Matthew presents two key moments: Jesus’ prediction of His own death and resurrection, and the story of the temple tax. The first part reminds us of the profound mystery of Jesus’ mission and the sacrifice He would undertake for our salvation. The second part, where Jesus provides the temple tax through a miraculous catch of fish, shows His divine authority and His willingness to submit to the laws of His time, even though He is the Son of God. This teaches us about trust in God’s providence and the importance of living in harmony with the community, even when we may feel exempt. Together, these readings call us to a life of faith, trust, and love. Like the Israelites, we are called to love God and care for those on the margins. Like Peter, we are invited to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And like Jesus, we are reminded that our ultimate hope lies in His resurrection and the promise of eternal life. Let us strive to live out these lessons in our daily lives, trusting in God’s plan and loving Him and others with our whole hearts.