Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 8, 2017

First Reading: Numbers 12.1-13

¹And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, because of his wife, an Ethiopian²and they said: "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not also spoken similarly to us?" And when the Lord had heard this³(for Moses was a man exceedingly meek, beyond all the men who were living upon the earth⁴immediately he spoke to him, and to Aaron and Miriam, "Go out, you three only, to the tabernacle of the covenant." And when they had gone out⁵the Lord descended in a column of cloud, and he stood at the entrance of the tabernacle, calling to Aaron and Miriam. And when they had advanced⁶he said to them: "Listen to my words. If there will be among you a prophet of the Lord, I will appear to him in a vision, or I will speak to him through a dream⁷But it is not so with my servant Moses, who is the most faithful in all my house⁸For I speak with him mouth to mouth, and plainly. And not through enigmas and figures does he perceive the Lord. Therefore, why were you not afraid to disparage my servant Moses?⁹And being angry against them, he went away¹⁰Likewise, the cloud which was over the tabernacle withdrew. And behold, Miriam appeared to be white with a leprosy, like snow. And when Aaron had looked upon her, and he had seen the spreading of the leprosy¹¹he said to Moses: "I beg you, my lord, not to impose upon us this sin, which we have committed foolishly¹²Do not let this one be like one who is dead, or like an abortion that has been cast from the womb of her mother. Behold, half of her flesh is already consumed by leprosy.¹³And Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, "O God, I beg you: heal her.

Psalm 51

Psalms

Chapter 51

¹Unto the end. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be merciful to me, O God, according to your great mercy. And, according to the plentitude of your compassion, wipe out my iniquity²Wash me once again from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin³For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me⁴Against you only have I sinned, and I have done evil before your eyes. And so, you are justified in your words, and you will prevail when you give judgment⁵For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sinfulness did my mother conceive me⁶For behold, you have loved truth. The obscure and hidden things of your wisdom, you have manifested to me⁷You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed. You will wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow⁸In my hearing, you will grant gladness and rejoicing. And the bones that have been humbled will exult⁹Turn your face away from my sins, and erase all my iniquities¹⁰Create a clean heart in me, O God. And renew an upright spirit within my inmost being¹¹Do not cast me away from your face; and do not take your Holy Spirit from me¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and confirm me with an unsurpassed spirit¹³I will teach the unjust your ways, and the impious will be converted to you¹⁴Free me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will extol your justice¹⁵O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth will announce your praise¹⁶For if you had desired sacrifice, I would certainly have given it, but with holocausts, you will not be delighted¹⁷A crushed spirit is a sacrifice to God. A contrite and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn¹⁸Act kindly, Lord, in your good will toward Zion, so that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up¹⁹Then you will accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and holocausts. Then they will lay calves upon your altar

Sermon

The first reading from Numbers 12:1-13 presents a story of conflict and divine intervention. Miriam and Aaron, siblings of Moses, challenge his leadership and question God’s exclusive communication through him. They also criticize Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. God, displeased with their jealousy and lack of trust, appears in a column of cloud and rebukes them. Miriam is afflicted with leprosy, a visible sign of God’s displeasure, but through Moses’ intercession, she is eventually healed. This story highlights themes of humility, trust in God’s plan, and the importance of unity among leaders. The context of this passage is set during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness, where Moses is the primary leader and prophet. Miriam and Aaron, who also hold leadership roles, allow jealousy to cloud their judgment, forgetting that God can speak through anyone He chooses. Their actions reveal the dangers of envy and the importance of respecting the roles God has given to others. Moses’ meekness and his willingness to pray for his sister, even after her wrongdoing, demonstrate his deep humility and faith in God’s mercy. This story invites us to reflect on our own relationships and attitudes. How often do we allow jealousy or pride to overshadow our trust in God’s plan? Like Miriam and Aaron, we may sometimes doubt God’s choices or feel threatened by the gifts He gives to others. Yet, the story reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His wisdom surpasses human understanding. Moses’ example teaches us to respond to conflict with humility and compassion, rather than anger or resentment. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to love and support one another, even when we feel challenged or misunderstood.