Daily Readings - Mon Jul 24 2017

First Reading - Exodus 14.5-18

⁵And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed about the people, and they said, "What did we intend to do, so that we released Israel from serving us?⁶Therefore, he harnessed his chariot, and he took all his people with him⁷And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and whatever chariots were in Egypt, and also the leaders of the whole army⁸And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the sons of Israel. But they were taken away by an exalted hand⁹And when the Egyptians followed the footsteps of those who preceded them, they found them in a camp above the sea. All the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and the entire army, were in Pihahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon¹⁰And when Pharaoh had drawn near, the sons of Israel, lifting up their eyes, saw the Egyptians behind them. And they were very afraid. And they cried out to the Lord¹¹And they said to Moses: "Perhaps there were no graves in Egypt, for which reason you took us to die in the wilderness. What is it that you intended to do, in leading us out of Egypt¹²Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying: Withdraw from us, so that we may serve the Egyptians? For it was much better to serve them, than to die in the wilderness.¹³And Moses said to the people: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord, which he will do today. For the Egyptians, whom you now see, will never again be seen, forever¹⁴The Lord will fight on your behalf, and you will remain silent.¹⁵And the Lord said to Moses: "Why cry out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to continue on¹⁶Now, lift up your staff, and extend your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the sons of Israel may walk through the midst of the sea on dry ground¹⁷Then I will harden the heart of the Egyptians, so as to pursue you. And I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in all his army, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen¹⁸And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I will be glorified in Pharaoh, and in his chariots, as well as in his horsemen.

Gospel - Matthew 12.38-42

Matthew

Chapter 12

³⁸Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.³⁹And answering, he said to them: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah⁴⁰For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights⁴¹The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here⁴²The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic escape of the Israelites from Pharaoh's army. As the Egyptians close in, the Israelites are gripped by fear, questioning Moses' leadership. Yet Moses assures them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord." This moment of crisis becomes a moment of revelation, as God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape unharmed. The story reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, God's providence can lead us to safety and freedom. The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees. When they demand a sign, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, a prophet who spent three days in the belly of a whale before preaching repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jesus implies that his own death and resurrection will be the ultimate sign for his generation. He also contrasts the faith of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom without hesitation, with the skepticism of those who refuse to see the divine presence in their midst. This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we seek signs to believe, or do we trust in God's presence even when it is unseen? These readings intersect in their call to trust and faith. The Israelites had to trust Moses and God's promise to deliver them, even when the situation seemed hopeless. Similarly, Jesus invites us to trust in his presence and the wisdom he offers, without demanding proof. In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty and doubt, where the challenges before us seem insurmountable. Yet, these readings remind us that God is always with us, guiding us through the "sea" of life. Let us stand firm in faith, trusting that God's wonders will unfold in His time. May we, like the people of Nineveh, repent and turn to Him with open hearts, recognizing the greater wisdom and love that stands before us in Jesus Christ.