Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 2, 2017
First Reading: Exodus 34.29-35
29And when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he held the two tablets of the testimony, and he did not know that his face was radiant from the sharing of words with the Lord30Then Aaron and the sons of Israel, seeing that the face of Moses was radiant, were afraid to approach close by31And being called by him, they turned back, both Aaron and the leaders of the assembly. And after he had spoken to them32all the sons of Israel also now came to him. And he instructed them in all the things that he had heard from the Lord on Mount Sinai33And having completed these words, he placed a veil over his face34But when he entered to the Lord and was speaking with him, he took it off, until he exited. And then he spoke to the sons of Israel all that had been commanded to him35And they saw that the face of Moses, when he came out, was radiant, but he covered his face again, whenever he spoke to them
Psalm 99
1A Psalm of David himself. The Lord has reigned: let the peoples be angry. He sits upon the cherubim: let the earth be moved2The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all peoples3May they confess to your great name, for it is terrible and holy4And the honor of the king loves judgment. You have prepared guidance. You have accomplished judgment and justice in Jacob5Exalt the Lord our God, and adore the footstool of his feet, for it is holy6Moses and Aaron are among his priests, and Samuel is among those who call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heeded them7He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies and the precept that he gave them8You heeded them, O Lord our God. You were a forgiving God to them, though taking vengeance on all their inventions9Exalt the Lord our God, and adore on his holy mountain. For the Lord our God is holy
Gospel: Matthew 13.44-46
44The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, he hides it, and, because of his joy, he goes and sells everything that he has, and he buys that field45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls46Having found one pearl of great value, he went away and sold all that he had, and he bought it
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the covenant, his face radiant from his encounter with God. This radiance, a symbol of God's glory, inspires both awe and fear in the people, prompting Moses to veil his face. This veil serves as a reminder of the separation between God and humanity, emphasizing the need for a mediator—a role Moses fulfills.
The Gospel reading presents two parables from Matthew, both illustrating the immense value of the Kingdom of Heaven. The treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value teach us that true spiritual riches require sacrifice and dedication. Just as the man and the merchant give up everything to obtain their treasures, we are called to prioritize our faith above all else.
Connecting these readings, we see that Moses' radiance reflects the transformative power of encountering God, while the parables urge us to seek spiritual treasures with unwavering commitment. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, just as Moses did. Let us embrace the challenge to seek God with passion and dedication, recognizing that our faith is the greatest treasure we can attain.