Daily Readings - Wed Jul 21 2021
Exodus
1And they set out from Elim. And the entire multitude of the sons of Israel arrived at the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after they departed from the land of Egypt2And the entire congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness3And the sons of Israel said to them: "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat around bowls of meat and ate bread until filled. Why have you led us away, into this desert, so that you might kill the entire multitude with famine?4Then the Lord said to Moses: "Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Let the people go out and collect what is sufficient for each day, so that I may test them, as to whether or not they will walk in my law5But on the sixth day, let them prepare what they use for carrying, and let there be double what they were accustomed to collect on a single day.9Moses also said to Aaron: "Say to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, ‘Approach before the Lord. For he has heard your murmuring.’ 10And when Aaron spoke to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. And behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud11Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying12"I have heard the murmuring of the sons of Israel. Say to them: ‘In the evening, you will eat flesh, and in the morning, you will be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ 13Therefore, it happened in the evening: quails, rising up, covered the camp. Likewise, in the morning, a dew lay all around the camp14And when it had covered the face of the earth, it appeared, in the wilderness, small and as if crushed with a pestle, similar to hoar-frost on the ground15When the sons of Israel had seen it, they said one to another: "Manhu?" which means "What is this?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them: "This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat
Matthew
1In that day, Jesus, departing from the house, sat down beside the sea2And such great crowds were gathered to him that he climbed into a boat and he sat down. And the entire multitude stood on the shore3And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow seed4And while he was sowing, some fell beside the road, and the birds of the air came and ate it5Then others fell in a rocky place, where they did not have much soil. And they sprung up promptly, because they had no depth of soil6But when the sun rose up, they were scorched, and because they had no roots, they withered7Still others fell among thorns, and the thorns increased and suffocated them8Yet some others fell upon good soil, and they produced fruit: some one hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold9Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that invite us to reflect on trust, provision, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they, after their liberation from Egypt, find themselves struggling with hunger and doubt. Their murmuring against Moses and Aaron reveals a deeper struggle with trust in God's providence. Yet, in His mercy, God provides manna and quail, a tangible sign of His care and a call to trust in His daily provision. This narrative reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God is ever-present, offering us what we need to sustain us on our journey.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching the parable of the sower, a vivid illustration of how God's Word is received in different hearts. The seed that falls on good soil produces abundant fruit, symbolizing those who hear and embrace God's message with openness and receptivity. The other soils—beside the road, on rocky ground, and among thorns—represent the various ways we can fail to let God's Word take root in our lives. This parable challenges us to examine the state of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's Word can grow and bear fruit.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the call to trust in God's provision and to be receptive to His Word. Just as the Israelites needed to trust in God's daily manna, we too must trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And just as the seed requires good soil to bear fruit, our hearts must be open and receptive to the Word of God if we are to live fruitful and Spirit-filled lives. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God's provision, even in the wilderness moments? Is our heart like the good soil, ready to receive and nurture the seed of His Word? May we strive to deepen our trust in God and to cultivate hearts that are fertile ground for His grace to grow.