Daily Readings - Tue Jul 16 2019
Exodus
1After these things, a man from the house of Levi went out, and he took a wife from his own stock2And she conceived and bore a son. And seeing him to be handsome, she hid him for three months3And when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a small basket woven of bulrushes, and she smeared it with pitch as well as tar. And she placed the little infant inside, and she laid him in the sedges by the bank of the river4His sister was standing at a distance and was wondering what would happen5Then, behold, the daughter of Pharaoh descended to wash in the river. And her maids walked along the edge of the cove. And when she had seen the small basket among the papyruses, she sent one of her servants for it. And when it was brought6she opened it; and realizing that within it was a little one crying, she took pity on him, and she said: "This is one of the infants of the Hebrews.7And the sister of the boy said to her: "If you wish, I will go and call to you a Hebrew woman, who will be able nurse the infant.8She responded, "Go." The maid went directly and called her mother9And the daughter of Pharaoh said to her: "Take this boy and nurse him for me. I will give you your wages." The woman took and nursed the boy. And when he was mature, she delivered him to the daughter of Pharaoh10And she adopted him in place of a son, and she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I took him from the water.11In those days, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers. And he saw their affliction and an Egyptian man striking a certain one of the Hebrews, his brothers12And when he had looked around this way and that, and had seen no one nearby, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand13And going out the next day, he spotted two Hebrews quarrelling violently. And he said to him who was causing the injury, "Why do you strike your neighbor?14But he responded: "Who appointed you as leader and judge over us? Do you want to kill me, just as yesterday you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and he said, "How has this word become known?15And Pharaoh heard this talk, and he sought to kill Moses. But fleeing from his sight, he stayed in the land of Midian, and he sat down next to a well
Matthew
20Then he began to rebuke the cities in which many of his miracles were accomplished, for they still had not repented21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in haircloth and ashes22Yet truly, I say to you, Tyre and Sidon shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment23And you, Capernaum, would you be exalted all the way to heaven? You shall descend all the way to Hell. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, perhaps it would have remained, even to this day24Yet truly, I say to you, that the land of Sodom shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God's providence and our response to His grace. The first reading from Exodus recounts the early life of Moses, highlighting God's intervention in the midst of adversity. Moses, destined for greatness, is saved from certain death through the courage of his mother and the compassion of Pharaoh's daughter. This act of divine providence sets the stage for Moses' future role as a leader. However, we also see Moses' initial attempt to intervene on behalf of his people, which leads to rejection and his subsequent flight to Midian. This story reminds us that even in moments of failure, God's plan continues to unfold.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus rebuking cities that witnessed miracles yet failed to repent. Jesus emphasizes that the lack of response to God's grace will have consequences, suggesting that even the most sinful cities of old would fare better on judgment day. This passage underscores the responsibility that comes with receiving God's blessings—faith and repentance are expected responses.
Both readings connect through the theme of response to divine action. Moses' story illustrates that God works through human actions, even in the face of setbacks, while Jesus' rebuke in Matthew highlights the importance of acknowledging and responding to God's grace. Together, they remind us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger narrative guided by God's will.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are encouraged to be attentive to God's presence and to respond with humility and faith. Just as Moses was called to lead despite his flaws, we too are called to serve and respond to God's grace. Let us not take God's blessings for granted but instead live with the awareness that our actions have spiritual consequences. May we strive to be responsive to God's will, trusting in His providence and seeking to live in accordance with His plan.