August 17, 2013

USCCB »  Bible »  Daily Readings

« August 16  |  August 18 »

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 418

Reading 1JOS 24:14-29

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,

and addressed them, saying: 

“Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely.

Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,

and serve the LORD.

If it does not please you to serve the LORD,

decide today whom you will serve,

the gods your fathers served beyond the River

or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.

As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua did not force the Hebrews to worship God.  But he strongly suggested that they do so and gave a good example and witness by proclaiming that he and his family would do just that.

But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD

for the service of other gods.

For it was the LORD, our God,

who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,

out of a state of slavery.

He performed those great miracles before our very eyes

and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples

through whom we passed.

At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples,

including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.

Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

And here, the Hebrews reiterated the oath they had taken in the presence of Moses, many years before:

Exodus 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.  8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Joshua in turn said to the people,

“You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God;

he is a jealous God who will not forgive

your transgressions or your sins.

If, after the good he has done for you,

you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods,

he will do evil to you and destroy you.”

Joshua warned the people that they must be sincere about this.   They must keep their oath and do righteousness in the eyes of God.   

This is the first time I have noticed that a verse of the Bible says that God will not forgive transgressions.  Of course, this is referring to unreported sins.  Sins for which the people do not truly repent.  God knows our hearts and knows when we are truly repentant and when we are simply fooling ourselves.

But the people answered Joshua, “We will still serve the LORD.”

But the people insisted that they were sincere.

Joshua therefore said to the people,

“You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”

They replied, “We are, indeed!”

Joshua continued:

“Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you

and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

Then the people promised Joshua,

“We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice.”

Then Joshua advised them to put their money where their mouth is and to begin to be rid of all their false idols.

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day

and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem,

which he recorded in the book of the law of God.

Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak

that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.

And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness,

for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us.

It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God.”

Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.

Then Joshua set a stone up as a reminder and marker of the pact that the people had made with God.  And he recited to them the laws and ordinances of God.

After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD,

died at the age of a hundred and ten.

And then, Joshua died at the age of one hundred and ten.

Responsorial PsalmPS 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 11

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

God gives Himself to those who love Him.  Those who love Him keep His Commandments are given the right to the Tree of Life and entrance into His Kingdom.

GospelMT 19:13-15

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

This reminds us that Jesus wants us to baptize little children as soon as possible.  Salvation is a gift.  And it is more purely seen when little infants are washed of Original Sin and made children of God from the cradle.