Daily Readings - Wed Jul 28 2021
Exodus
29And when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he held the two tablets of the testimony, and he did not know that his face was radiant from the sharing of words with the Lord30Then Aaron and the sons of Israel, seeing that the face of Moses was radiant, were afraid to approach close by31And being called by him, they turned back, both Aaron and the leaders of the assembly. And after he had spoken to them32all the sons of Israel also now came to him. And he instructed them in all the things that he had heard from the Lord on Mount Sinai33And having completed these words, he placed a veil over his face34But when he entered to the Lord and was speaking with him, he took it off, until he exited. And then he spoke to the sons of Israel all that had been commanded to him35And they saw that the face of Moses, when he came out, was radiant, but he covered his face again, whenever he spoke to them
Matthew
44The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, he hides it, and, because of his joy, he goes and sells everything that he has, and he buys that field45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls46Having found one pearl of great value, he went away and sold all that he had, and he bought it
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful images that invite us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s presence and the joy of seeking His kingdom. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the covenant, his face radiant from his encounter with God. This radiance is so awe-inspiring that the people are afraid to approach him, and Moses must veil his face except when speaking with the Lord. The second reading from Matthew presents two parables: the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value. Both parables emphasize the joy and sacrifice required to seek and possess the kingdom of heaven, suggesting that true treasure lies in relationship with God.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on the transformative encounter with God and the willingness to prioritize this relationship above all else. Moses’ radiant face symbolizes the profound change that comes from being in God’s presence, while the parables in Matthew highlight the joy and commitment required to seek the kingdom. Both readings remind us that encountering God is not a passive experience but one that demands our full engagement and surrender. Just as Moses veiled his face to protect the people from the intensity of God’s presence, we, too, must be mindful of how our encounter with God transforms us and calls us to live differently.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we seek God and how His presence shapes us. Are we willing to “sell everything” to possess the pearl of great value, or do we allow worldly distractions to take precedence? Moses’ veiled face reminds us that our encounter with God is not just for ourselves but also for others. As we grow in our relationship with God, we must share His light with the world, even as we humbly recognize the awe-inspiring nature of His presence. Let us strive to seek God with joy and abandon, trusting that His transformative power will shine through us, guiding others to Him.