Daily Readings - Tue Jul 13 2021
Exodus
1After these things, a man from the house of Levi went out, and he took a wife from his own stock2And she conceived and bore a son. And seeing him to be handsome, she hid him for three months3And when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a small basket woven of bulrushes, and she smeared it with pitch as well as tar. And she placed the little infant inside, and she laid him in the sedges by the bank of the river4His sister was standing at a distance and was wondering what would happen5Then, behold, the daughter of Pharaoh descended to wash in the river. And her maids walked along the edge of the cove. And when she had seen the small basket among the papyruses, she sent one of her servants for it. And when it was brought6she opened it; and realizing that within it was a little one crying, she took pity on him, and she said: "This is one of the infants of the Hebrews.7And the sister of the boy said to her: "If you wish, I will go and call to you a Hebrew woman, who will be able nurse the infant.8She responded, "Go." The maid went directly and called her mother9And the daughter of Pharaoh said to her: "Take this boy and nurse him for me. I will give you your wages." The woman took and nursed the boy. And when he was mature, she delivered him to the daughter of Pharaoh10And she adopted him in place of a son, and she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I took him from the water.11In those days, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers. And he saw their affliction and an Egyptian man striking a certain one of the Hebrews, his brothers12And when he had looked around this way and that, and had seen no one nearby, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand13And going out the next day, he spotted two Hebrews quarrelling violently. And he said to him who was causing the injury, "Why do you strike your neighbor?14But he responded: "Who appointed you as leader and judge over us? Do you want to kill me, just as yesterday you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and he said, "How has this word become known?15And Pharaoh heard this talk, and he sought to kill Moses. But fleeing from his sight, he stayed in the land of Midian, and he sat down next to a well
Matthew
20Then he began to rebuke the cities in which many of his miracles were accomplished, for they still had not repented21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in haircloth and ashes22Yet truly, I say to you, Tyre and Sidon shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment23And you, Capernaum, would you be exalted all the way to heaven? You shall descend all the way to Hell. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, perhaps it would have remained, even to this day24Yet truly, I say to you, that the land of Sodom shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the human response to God’s presence in our lives. The first reading from Exodus tells the story of Moses’ early life, highlighting the courage and ingenuity of his mother, who trusted God’s plan by placing her infant son in a basket and setting him afloat on the Nile. This act of faith not only saved Moses’ life but also set the stage for his eventual role as a leader of God’s people. Later, as Moses grew older, we see his impulsive attempt to intervene in the injustices he witnessed, which led to his flight to Midian. This narrative reminds us that even the greatest leaders have moments of weakness and that growth often comes through humility and patience.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus’ rebuke of the cities where He performed many miracles but saw little repentance. He laments that even Sodom and other notoriously sinful cities would have responded more readily to the same signs. This passage challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s grace and mercy in our own lives. Do we take His blessings for granted, or do we allow them to transform us? Jesus’ words remind us that spiritual complacency is a dangerous trap and that true faith must lead to conversion and a change of heart.
Both readings invite us to examine our relationship with God. Moses’ story teaches us about the importance of trust and surrender, even in uncertain circumstances. Jesus’ words, on the other hand, call us to humility and repentance, urging us not to ignore the signs of God’s presence in our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we open to God’s plan, even when it feels unpredictable? Do we allow His grace to transform us, or do we remain indifferent? May we learn to trust in His providence and respond with hearts that are humble, repentant, and open to His will.