Bible Readings - Aug. 18, 2025

Reading I

Judges 2:11-19

the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals,

and abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the one who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them, and bowed down to them, and provoked the LORD.

Because they had abandoned the LORD and served Baal and the Astartes,

the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel, and he delivered them into the power of plunderers who despoiled them. He sold them into the power of the enemies around them, and they were no longer able to withstand their enemies.

Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD turned against them, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them; and they were in great distress.

But the LORD raised up judges to save them from the power of their plunderers;

but they did not listen to their judges either, for they prostituted themselves by following other gods, bowing down to them. They were quick to stray from the way their ancestors had taken, who obeyed the commandments of the LORD; but these did not.

When the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived. The LORD would change his mind when they groaned in their affliction under their oppressors.

But when the judge died, they would again do worse than their ancestors, following other gods, serving and bowing down to them, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn ways.

Psalm 106:34-37, 39-40, 43ab, 44

They did not exterminate the peoples,

as the LORD had commanded them,

But mingled with the nations

and learned their works.

They served their idols,

which became a snare for them.

They sacrificed their sons

and their daughters to demons.

They became defiled by their works,

and wanton in their crimes.

And the LORD grew angry with his people,

and abhorred his inheritance.

Many times did he rescue them,

but they embittered him with their counsels.

Yet he had regard for their affliction

when he heard their cry.

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Gospel

Matthew 19:16-22

Now someone approached him and said,

“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”

He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?

There is only One who is good.

If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

He asked him, “Which ones?”

And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill;

you shall not commit adultery;

you shall not steal;

you shall not bear false witness;

honor your father and your mother;

and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The young man said to him,

“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go,

sell what you have and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,

for he had many possessions.