Daily Readings - Mon Jul 29 2019

¹⁵And Moses returned from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, written on both sides¹⁶and accomplished by the work of God. Also, the writing of God was engraved on the tablets¹⁷Then Joshua, hearing the tumult of the people shouting, said to Moses: "The outcry of battle is heard in the camp.¹⁸But he responded: "It is not the clamor of men being exhorted to battle, nor the shout of men being compelled to flee. But I hear the voice of singing.¹⁹And when he had approached to the camp, he saw the calf and the dances. And being very angry, he threw down the tablets from his hand, and he broke them at the base of the mountain²⁰And seizing the calf, which they had made, he burnt it and crushed it, even to dust, which he scattered into water. And he gave from it to the sons of Israel to drink²¹And he said to Aaron, "What has this people done to you, so that you would bring upon them the greatest sin?²²And he answered him: "Let not my lord be indignant. For you know this people, that they are prone to evil²³They said to me: ‘Make gods for us, who may go before us. For this Moses, who led us away from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has befallen him.²⁴And I said to them, ‘Which of you has gold?’ And they took it and gave it to me. And I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.³⁰Then, when the next day arrived, Moses spoke to the people: "You have sinned the greatest sin. I will ascend to the Lord. Perhaps, in some way, I might be able to entreat him for your wickedness.³¹And returning to the Lord, he said: "I beg you, this people has sinned the greatest sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. Either release them from this offense³²or, if you do not, then delete me from the book that you have written.³³And the Lord answered him: "Whoever has sinned against me, him I will delete from my book³⁴But as for you, go and lead this people where I have told you. My angel will go before you. Then, on the day of retribution, I will also visit this sin of theirs.

Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42

John

Chapter 11

¹⁷And so Jesus went. And he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days¹⁸(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.¹⁹And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so as to console them over their brother²⁰Therefore, Martha, when she heard that Jesus was arriving, went out to meet him. But Mary was sitting at home²¹And then Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died²²But even now, I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you.²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again.²⁴Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again, at the resurrection on the last day.²⁵Jesus said to her: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he has died, he shall live²⁶And everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die for eternity. Do you believe this?²⁷She said to him: "Certainly, Lord. I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has come into this world.

Luke

Chapter 10

³⁸Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home³⁹And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word⁴⁰Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.⁴¹And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things⁴²And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, crisis, and redemption. The first reading from Exodus recounts the story of the golden calf, where the Israelites, in Moses' absence, succumb to impatience and idolatry. Moses, bearing the tablets of the covenant, descends to find his people in disarray. His anger leads him to shatter the tablets, yet he intercedes with God, seeking mercy for his people. This episode underscores the fragility of faith and the crucial role of leadership in restoring divine connection. The Gospel reading shifts our focus to John, where Jesus engages with Martha after Lazarus's death. Martha's statement, "I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you," reveals her deep faith. Jesus responds by declaring Himself the Resurrection and Life, offering a profound theological truth. Martha's confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," highlights her unwavering belief amidst grief. This exchange illustrates the transformative power of faith in the face of death and loss. These readings intersect at the theme of faith in crisis. The Exodus story warns against the consequences of faltering faith, while John's narrative presents faith as a source of hope and resurrection. Moses intercedes, prefiguring Jesus, the ultimate mediator. Both stories remind us that true faith navigates uncertainty and despair, trusting in God's plan. In daily life, these readings encourage us to hold fast to faith during trials. Like Martha, we can affirm our belief in Jesus, recognizing Him as our source of life. Let us trust in His power to overcome death and sin, and may our faith be a beacon of hope in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: maintain faith, for in Jesus, we find eternal life and redemption.