Daily Readings - Thu Aug 01 2019
Exodus
16And Moses did all that the Lord had instructed17Therefore, in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was put in place18And Moses raised it up, and he positioned the panels as well as the bases and the bars, and he set up the columns19and he stretched out the roof over the tabernacle, imposing a cover above it, just as the Lord had decreed20And he placed the testimony in the ark, applying the bars beneath, and the oracle above21And when he had brought the ark into the tabernacle, he drew the veil before it, in order to fulfill the commandment of the Lord34the cloud covered the tabernacle of the testimony, and the glory of the Lord filled it35Neither could Moses enter the covering of the covenant: the cloud was covering all things, and the majesty of the Lord was flashing. For the cloud had covered everything36Whenever the cloud departed from the tabernacle, the sons of Israel set out by their companies37But if it remained hanging over it, they remained in the same place38Certainly, the cloud of the Lord lay over the tabernacle by day, and the fire by night, being seen by all the people of Israel throughout all their resting places
Matthew
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, which gathers together all kinds of fish48When it has been filled, drawing it out and sitting beside the shore, they selected the good into vessels, but the bad they threw away49So shall it be at the consummation of the age. The Angels shall go forth and separate the bad from the midst of the just50And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth51Have you understood all these things?" They say to him, "Yes.52He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe well-taught about the kingdom of heaven, is like a man, the father of a family, who offers from his storehouse both the new and the old.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God and the ultimate judgment that awaits us. In the first reading from Exodus, we see Moses meticulously fulfilling God’s instructions to erect the tabernacle, a sacred space where God’s glory would dwell among the Israelites. The cloud and fire that cover the tabernacle symbolize God’s active and abiding presence, guiding His people through their journey. This passage reminds us that God desires to dwell among us, but it requires our fidelity to His will and our willingness to create space for Him in our lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the net to describe the kingdom of heaven. The net gathers all kinds of fish, but when it is full, the good are separated from the bad. This parable is a sobering reminder that our lives will be judged, and our choices will have eternal consequences. Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of heaven is not just about inclusion but also about purification. The scribe who brings out both the old and the new from his storehouse represents the disciple who has deeply understood the teachings of the kingdom and lives them with integrity.
These readings call us to examine our relationship with God and our commitment to living according to His will. Like the Israelites, we are called to create space for God’s presence in our lives, whether through prayer, service, or acts of love. At the same time, the parable of the net challenges us to reflect on the state of our hearts and lives. Are we living in such a way that we are prepared for the day when we will stand before God? Let us strive to be like the scribe who treasures both the old and the new, rooted in tradition yet open to the fresh movements of the Spirit. May we seek to live with integrity, knowing that our ultimate fulfillment lies in union with God.