Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2019
Exodus
1And they set out from Elim. And the entire multitude of the sons of Israel arrived at the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after they departed from the land of Egypt2And the entire congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness3And the sons of Israel said to them: "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat around bowls of meat and ate bread until filled. Why have you led us away, into this desert, so that you might kill the entire multitude with famine?4Then the Lord said to Moses: "Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Let the people go out and collect what is sufficient for each day, so that I may test them, as to whether or not they will walk in my law5But on the sixth day, let them prepare what they use for carrying, and let there be double what they were accustomed to collect on a single day.9Moses also said to Aaron: "Say to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Approach before the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring.’ 10And when Aaron spoke to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. And behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud11Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying12"I have heard the murmuring of the sons of Israel. Say to them: ‘In the evening, you will eat flesh, and in the morning, you will be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ 13Therefore, it happened in the evening: quails, rising up, covered the camp. Likewise, in the morning, a dew lay all around the camp14And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared, in the wilderness, small and as if crushed with a pestle, similar to hoar-frost on the ground15When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: "Manhu?" which means "What is this?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: "This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat
Matthew
1In that day, Jesus, departing from the house, sat down beside the sea2And such great crowds were gathered to him that he climbed into a boat and he sat down. And the entire multitude stood on the shore3And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow seed4And while he was sowing, some fell beside the road, and the birds of the air came and ate it5Then others fell in a rocky place, where they did not have much soil. And they sprung up promptly, because they had no depth of soil6But when the sun rose up, they were scorched, and because they had no roots, they withered7Still others fell among thorns, and the thorns increased and suffocated them8Yet some others fell upon good soil, and they produced fruit: some one hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold9Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on trust and receptivity in our relationship with God. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they grumble against Moses and Aaron, longing for the abundance they left behind in Egypt. God responds by providing manna and quail, a miraculous provision that also serves as a test of their faith. This story reminds us that God's care for us is constant, even in times of uncertainty, but it also challenges us to trust in His providence when our own plans and expectations are not met.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which offers a vivid lesson about the different ways people respond to God's word. The seed that falls on good soil represents those who hear and embrace the message with open hearts, bearing fruit abundantly. However, the seed that falls on rocky, thorny, or hardened ground symbolizes the various obstacles that can prevent us from truly receiving and living out the Gospel. Jesus' parable calls us to examine the condition of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's word can take root and flourish.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The Israelites' murmuring in the desert reveals a lack of trust in God's plan, while the parable of the sower highlights the importance of being receptive to God's word. Together, they invite us to reflect on our own trust and openness to God's presence in our lives. In our daily struggles and uncertainties, we are called to trust in God's providence, just as the Israelites were called to trust in the manna He provided. Similarly, we are invited to examine our hearts, to clear away the "rocks" and "thorns" that hinder our ability to receive God's word, and to nurture a spirit of openness and faith. May we, like the good soil in the parable, bear fruit in abundance, living out the love and mercy of God in all that we do.