Daily Readings - Tue Jul 30 2019
Exodus
7Also, Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it beyond the camp at a distance, and he called its name: ‘Tabernacle of the Covenant.’ And all the people, who had any kind of question, went out to the Tabernacle of the Covenant, beyond the camp8And when Moses went out to the tabernacle, all the people rose up, and each one stood at the door of his pavilion, and they beheld the back of Moses until he entered the tent9And when he had gone into the Tabernacle of the Covenant, the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door, and he spoke with Moses10And all discerned that the pillar of cloud stood at the door of the Tabernacle. And they stood and worshipped at the doors of their tents11But the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, just as a man is used to speaking to his friend. And when he returned to the camp, his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not withdraw from the Tabernacle
4And so he cut out two tablets of stone, like those that were before. And rising up in the night, he ascended onto Mount Sinai, just as the Lord had instructed him, carrying with him the tablets5And when the Lord had descended in a cloud, Moses stood with him, calling upon the name of the Lord6And as he was crossing before him, he said: "The Ruler, the Lord God, merciful and lenient, patient and full of compassion and also truthful7who preserves mercy a thousand fold, who takes away iniquity, and wickedness, and also sin; and with you no one, in and of himself, is innocent. You render the iniquity of the fathers to the sons, and also to their descendents to the third and fourth generation.8And hurrying, Moses bowed down prostrate to the ground; and worshiping9he said: "If I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, I beg you to walk with us, (for the people are stiff-necked) and take away our iniquities and our sin, and so possess us.28Therefore, he was in that place with the Lord for forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread and he did not drink water, and he wrote on the tablets the ten words of the covenant
Matthew
36Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. And his disciples drew near to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.37Responding, he said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man38Now the field is the world. And the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. But the weeds are the sons of wickedness39So the enemy who sowed them is the devil. And truly, the harvest is the consummation of the age; while the reapers are the Angels40Therefore, just as weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the consummation of the age41The Son of man shall send out his Angels, and they shall gather from his kingdom all who lead astray and those who work iniquity42And he shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth43Then the just ones shall shine like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that illuminate the nature of God's presence and judgment. The first reading from Exodus depicts Moses as a mediator between God and the Israelites, emphasizing God's mercy and the sacred covenant. Moses receives the Ten Commandments, symbolizing God's desire for a relationship with His people. The Tabernacle serves as a tangible symbol of God's presence among them, highlighting His patience and compassion.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds, illustrating the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final harvest. This parable underscores the inevitability of judgment, where the wicked will be separated from the righteous. The connection between the two readings lies in their exploration of God's presence and the ultimate reckoning, reminding us of His mercy and justice.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to discern good from evil in our lives and to strive for virtue. Let us embrace God's mercy, seeking to live in accordance with His will. The moral lesson here is one of trust and mindfulness—trusting in God's mercy while being vigilant in our pursuit of righteousness. May we, like Moses, seek a deeper relationship with God and, like the disciples, remain vigilant for the harvest, striving to be among the just who shine in the kingdom of the Father.