Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 31, 2019
First Reading: Exodus 34.29-35
29And when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he held the two tablets of the testimony, and he did not know that his face was radiant from the sharing of words with the Lord30Then Aaron and the sons of Israel, seeing that the face of Moses was radiant, were afraid to approach close by31And being called by him, they turned back, both Aaron and the leaders of the assembly. And after he had spoken to them32all the sons of Israel also now came to him. And he instructed them in all the things that he had heard from the Lord on Mount Sinai33And having completed these words, he placed a veil over his face34But when he entered to the Lord and was speaking with him, he took it off, until he exited. And then he spoke to the sons of Israel all that had been commanded to him35And they saw that the face of Moses, when he came out, was radiant, but he covered his face again, whenever he spoke to them
Psalm 99
1A Psalm of David himself. The Lord has reigned: let the peoples be angry. He sits upon the cherubim: let the earth be moved2The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all peoples3May they confess to your great name, for it is terrible and holy4And the honor of the king loves judgment. You have prepared guidance. You have accomplished judgment and justice in Jacob5Exalt the Lord our God, and adore the footstool of his feet, for it is holy6Moses and Aaron are among his priests, and Samuel is among those who call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heeded them7He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his testimonies and the precept that he gave them8You heeded them, O Lord our God. You were a forgiving God to them, though taking vengeance on all their inventions9Exalt the Lord our God, and adore on his holy mountain. For the Lord our God is holy
Gospel: Matthew 13.44-46
44The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, he hides it, and, because of his joy, he goes and sells everything that he has, and he buys that field45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls46Having found one pearl of great value, he went away and sold all that he had, and he bought it
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound images of encountering the divine. In Exodus, Moses descends from Mount Sinai, his face radiant from his intimate conversation with God. This radiance is so awe-inspiring that the people are afraid to approach him, forcing Moses to veil his face. Yet, when he speaks to God, he removes the veil, symbolizing the direct and unobstructed relationship he has with the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus tells two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven: the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value. Both stories emphasize the joy and sacrifice required to possess something of ultimate worth.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Moses’ radiance reminds us that encountering God transforms us, often in ways that others can see. The veil Moses wears suggests that while we may hide our true selves from the world, we must be unmasked before God. The parables in Matthew challenge us to consider what we are willing to give up in order to possess the greatest treasure—God’s love and grace. Just as the man in the parable sells everything to buy the field, we are called to prioritize our spiritual lives above all else.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to seek God with the same joy and determination as the characters in the parables. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to let go of distractions and sins that prevent me from fully embracing God’s presence? Like Moses, may our encounters with God leave us transformed and radiant. And like the man who found the treasure, may we cherish the Kingdom of Heaven above all else, willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to live in accordance with God’s will.