Daily Readings - Sat Jul 29 2023
Exodus
3Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: "We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.4Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel5And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord6And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar7And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.8In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.
Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
John
17And so Jesus went. And he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days18(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.19And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so as to console them over their brother20Therefore, Martha, when she heard that Jesus was arriving, went out to meet him. But Mary was sitting at home21And then Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died22But even now, I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you.23Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again.24Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again, at the resurrection on the last day.25Jesus said to her: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he has died, he shall live26And everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die for eternity. Do you believe this?27She said to him: "Certainly, Lord. I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has come into this world.
Luke
38Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home39And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word40Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.41And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things42And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of covenant and faith. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses mediates a solemn covenant between God and the people of Israel. The Israelites, having heard the words of the Lord, commit themselves to obedience, and Moses seals this commitment by sprinkling the blood of sacrifice on the people. This act symbolizes the bond between God and His people, a bond rooted in fidelity and mutual obligation. The context of this passage is the giving of the Law at Sinai, where God establishes Israel as His chosen people, and they accept the responsibilities and blessings that come with this relationship.
In the Gospel, we encounter a different kind of covenant, one rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Martha, in her grief over Lazarus’ death, expresses a deep faith in Jesus’ power to do the impossible. Jesus responds by revealing Himself as the Resurrection and the Life, offering a hope that transcends death. Martha’s affirmation, “I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” shows her acceptance of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises. While the first reading focuses on the external signs of covenant—blood, sacrifices, and written laws—the Gospel shifts our attention to the interior transformation brought by faith in Christ.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not just about external rituals or rules but about a living, personal bond. Like the Israelites, we are called to fidelity, but as Christians, we know that this fidelity is made possible by the grace of Christ. In our daily lives, we can apply this by trusting in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain, and by living with hope in the face of death and hardship. The moral lesson is clear: Christ is our life, and our faith in Him transforms us, enabling us to live in a way that reflects His love and truth.