Daily Readings - Mon Jul 15 2019

⁸Meanwhile, there arose a new king over Egypt, who was ignorant of Joseph⁹And he said to his people: "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are many, and they are stronger than we are¹⁰Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply; and if any war should advance against us, they may be added to our enemies, and having fought against us, they might depart from the land.¹¹And so he set over them masters of the works, in order to afflict them with burdens. And they built for Pharaoh the cities of the tabernacles: Pithom and Raamses¹²And the more they oppressed them, so much more did they multiply and increase¹³And the Egyptians hated the sons of Israel, and they afflicted them and mocked them¹⁴And they led their life directly into bitterness, with hard work in clay and brick, and with all kinds of servitude, so that they were being overwhelmed with the works of the land²²Therefore, Pharaoh instructed all his people, saying: "Whatever will be born of the male sex, cast it into the river; whatever will be born of the female sex, retain it.

Matthew

Chapter 10

³⁴Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth. I came, not to send peace, but the sword³⁵For I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law³⁶And the enemies of a man will be those of his own household³⁷Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me³⁸And whoever does not take up his cross, and follow me is not worthy of me³⁹Whoever finds his life, will lose it. And whoever will have lost his life because of me, shall find it⁴⁰Whoever receives you, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives him who sent me⁴¹Whoever receives a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet. And whoever receives the just in the name of the just shall receive the reward of the just⁴²And whoever shall give, even to one of the least of these, a cup of cold water to drink, solely in the name of a disciple: Amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

Chapter 11

¹And it happened that, when Jesus had completed instructing his twelve disciples, he went away from there in order to teach and to preach in their cities

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and compassion. The first reading from Exodus recounts the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, where they faced relentless labor and the cruel decree to kill every male infant. This sets the stage for the eventual redemption through Moses, highlighting God's faithfulness amidst suffering. The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus speaking about the divisive nature of His mission, emphasizing that following Him may lead to family conflicts and personal sacrifices. He also underscores the importance of welcoming others in His name, even through simple acts of kindness. These readings, though from different times, share a common theme of enduring hardship for a greater purpose. The Israelites' suffering in Egypt prefigured their liberation, while Jesus' words in Matthew call believers to stand firm in their faith despite challenges. Both stories remind us that our struggles are not without meaning and that God's plan often unfolds through adversity. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when faced with opposition. They remind us that our actions, no matter how small, can reflect God's love and bring comfort to others. Trusting in God's providence and showing compassion, as Jesus taught, helps us navigate life's difficulties with grace and hope.