Daily Readings - Mon Aug 05 2019
Numbers
4So then, the mix of common people, who had ascended with them, were enflamed with desire, and sitting and weeping, with the sons of Israel joining them, they said, "Who will give us flesh to eat5We remember the fish that we ate freely in Egypt; we call to mind the cucumbers, and melons, and leeks, and onions, and garlic6Our life is dry; our eyes look out to see nothing but manna.7Now the manna was like coriander seed, but with the color of bdellium8And the people wandered about, gathering it, and they crushed it with a millstone, or ground it with a mortar; then they boiled it in a pot, and made biscuits out of it, with a taste like bread made with oil9And when the dew descended in the night over the camp, the manna descended together with it10And so, Moses heard the people weeping by their families, each one at the door of his tent. And the fury of the Lord was greatly enflamed. And to Moses also the matter seemed intolerable11And so he said to the Lord: "Why have you afflicted your servant? Why do I not find favor before you? And why have you imposed the weight of this entire people upon me12Could I have conceived this entire multitude, or have given birth to them, so that you might say to me: Carry them in your bosom, as a nursemaid usually carries a little infant, and bring them into the land, about which you have sworn to their fathers13From where would I obtain the flesh to give to so great a multitude? They weep against me, saying, ‘Give us flesh, so that we may eat.14I alone am unable to sustain this entire people, because it is too heavy for me15But if it seems to you otherwise, I beg you to put me to death, and so may I find grace in your eyes, lest I be afflicted with such evils.
Matthew
13When Jesus had heard it, he withdrew from there by boat, to a deserted place by himself. And when the crowds had heard of it, they followed him on foot from the cities14And going out, he saw a great multitude, and he took pity on them, and he cured their sick15And when evening had arrived, his disciples approached him, saying: "This is a deserted place, and the hour has now passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the towns, they may buy food for themselves.16But Jesus said to them: "They have no need to go. Give them something to eat yourselves.17They answered him, "We have nothing here, except five loaves and two fish.18He said to them, "Bring them here to me.19And when he had ordered the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and gazing up to heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the bread to the disciples, and then the disciples to the multitudes20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up the remnants: twelve baskets full of fragments21Now the number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and provision. The first reading from Numbers describes the Israelites' discontent with manna, expressing a deep longing for the variety of foods they left behind in Egypt. Their complaint not only reveals dissatisfaction but also a lack of trust in God's provision. Moses, burdened by their ingratitude, seeks relief from the responsibility of leading such a complaining people. This passage highlights the human tendency to overlook the blessings we have and instead focus on what we lack.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a contrasting narrative of abundance and faith. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowd that followed him, performs the miracle of the loaves and fish, feeding over 5000 people. This act demonstrates God's willingness to provide beyond our needs, often in unexpected ways. The disciples' initial doubt—"We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish"—is transformed by Jesus' faith and action into an abundance that leaves no one in want.
These readings remind us to cultivate gratitude and trust in our daily lives. Like the Israelites, we may sometimes feel dissatisfied with what we have, but it is in these moments that we must remember God's faithfulness. Jesus' miracle teaches us that even in scarcity, God's provision can be abundant. As we navigate life's challenges, let us approach them with faith, trusting that God will provide what we need. May we learn to see the manna in our lives with gratitude and to trust in God's plan, even when it seems insufficient.