Daily Readings - Sat Jul 27 2019
Exodus
3Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: "We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.4Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel5And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord6And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar7And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.8In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.
Matthew
24He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field25But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away26And when the plants had grown, and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared27So the servants of the Father of the family, approaching, said to him: ‘Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?28And he said to them, ‘A man who is an enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Is it your will that we should go and gather them up?29And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps in gathering the weeds, you might also root out the wheat together with it30Permit both to grow until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers: Gather first the weeds, and bind them into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my storehouse.’
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of covenant and challenge. The first reading from Exodus describes the establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites, where Moses acts as the mediator. The people commit to following God's laws, and the ritual with blood signifies the sealing of this sacred agreement. This moment is a cornerstone of Israel's identity, marking their commitment to a life guided by divine commandments.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds, which invites us to reflect on the nature of the kingdom of heaven. The parable illustrates that good and evil can coexist until the time of harvest, when separation will occur. This teaches us about patience and discernment, reminding us that judgment is not ours to make. Instead, we are called to focus on our own growth and trust in God's plan.
These readings remind us that our faith is both a commitment and a journey. Like the Israelites, we are called to live according to God's will, even when the path is uncertain. The parable encourages us to trust in God's timing and to focus on nurturing our own spiritual growth. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remain steadfast in our commitment to God, trusting that He will bring all things to fruition in His time.