Daily Readings - Thu Jul 15 2021
Exodus
13Moses said to God: "Behold, I will go to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ If they say to me, ‘What is his name?’ What shall I say to them?14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO AM." He said: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘HE WHO IS has sent me to you.’ 15And God said again to Moses: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is the name for me in eternity, and this is my memorial from generation to generation16Go and gather together the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: When visiting, I have visited you, and I have seen all that has befallen you in Egypt17And I have spoken in order to lead you out of the affliction of Egypt, into the land of the Canaanite, and Hittite, and Amorite, and Perizzite, and Hivite, and Jebusite, into a land flowing with milk and honey.18And they shall hear your voice. And you shall enter, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him: ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has called us. We shall go three days’ journey into the wilderness, in order to offer sacrifice to the Lord our God.19But I know that the king of Egypt will not release you, unless you go out by a powerful hand20For I will extend my hand, and I will strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do in the midst of them. After these things, he will release you
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation and invitation. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses stands before the burning bush, and God reveals His name as “I AM WHO AM.” This mysterious and powerful name underscores God’s eternal and unchanging nature. God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, promising to guide and strengthen him for the task. This passage reminds us of God’s active presence in history and His desire to free His people from oppression.
In the Gospel, Jesus extends a gentle invitation to all who are weary and burdened: “Come to me, and I will refresh you.” He offers His yoke, promising that it is easy to bear and light. This is not a call to escape life’s challenges but to find rest in Him amidst them. Jesus’ words echo the Exodus story, where God delivers His people from slavery. Just as Moses trusted God’s promise, we are invited to trust in Jesus’ promise of spiritual rest and renewal.
These readings remind us that faith is rooted in trust and surrender. Like Moses, we may face daunting challenges, but God’s presence and power are with us. Like the weary laborers in the Gospel, we may feel overwhelmed, but Jesus offers us His yoke, teaching us to rely on His grace. In our daily lives, let us turn to God with trust, surrendering our burdens to Him. May we find rest in His presence and remember that His plan is always one of love and liberation.