Daily Readings - Wed Aug 09 2023
Numbers
1And there, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying2"Send men, who may examine the land of Canaan, which I will give to the sons of Israel, one from the rulers of each tribe.25And those exploring the land returned after forty days, having circulated through the entire region26And they went to Moses and Aaron, and to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel in the desert of Paran, which is in Kadesh. And speaking to them, and to the entire multitude, they showed them the fruits of the land27And they explained, saying: "We went into the land, to which you sent us, which, it is true, flows with milk and honey, as one can know by these fruits28But it has very strong occupants, and the cities are great and also walled. We saw the race of Anak there29Amalek lives in the south. The Hethite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite live in the mountains. And truly, the Canaanite stays near the sea and around the streams of the Jordan.30During these events, Caleb, to restrain the murmuring of the people who rose up against Moses, said, "Let us ascend and possess the land, for we will be able to obtain it.31Yet truly, the others, who had been with him, were saying, "By no means are we able to ascend to this people, because they are stronger than we are.32And before the sons of Israel they disparaged the land, which they had inspected, saying: "The land, which we viewed, devours its inhabitants. The people, upon whom we gazed, were of lofty stature33There, we saw some monsters among the sons of Anak, of the race of giants; by comparison with them, we seemed like locusts.
1And so, crying out, the entire crowd wept throughout that night2And all the sons of Israel were murmuring against Moses and Aaron, saying26And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying27"How long will this very wicked multitude murmur against me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel28Therefore, say to them: As I live, says the Lord, as you spoke in my hearing, so will I do to you29In the wilderness, here shall your carcasses lie. All you who were numbered from twenty years and above, and who have murmured against me34According to the number of the forty days, during which you examined the land, one year shall be charged for each day. And so, for forty years you shall take back your iniquities, and you shall know my retribution35For just as I have spoken, so shall I do, to this entire most wicked multitude, which has risen up together against me. In the wilderness, here shall it fade away and die.
Matthew
21And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon22And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: "Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.23He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: "Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.24And responding, he said, "I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.25But she approached and adored him, saying, "Lord, help me.26And responding, he said, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.27But she said, "Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.28Then Jesus, responding, said to her: "O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that very hour
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the interplay between faith and fear. The first reading from Numbers recounts the story of the Israelites as they stand at the threshold of the Promised Land. Moses sends spies to survey Canaan, who return with tales of abundance but also of formidable adversaries. While Caleb urges trust in God’s promise, the majority of the people are consumed by fear, doubting God’s power to deliver them. This lack of faith leads to a grave consequence: the entire generation wanders the wilderness for forty years, never entering the land.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a stark contrast. A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus, pleading for her daughter’s healing. Despite Jesus’ initial seeming refusal, she persists, demonstrating unwavering faith. Her courage and trust in Jesus’ power lead to a miraculous healing. This story highlights the transformative power of faith, even in the face of adversity or initial rejection.
Together, these readings remind us of the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem daunting. The Israelites’ fear led to missed opportunities, while the Canaanite woman’s persistence in faith opened the door to grace. In our own lives, we are often faced with challenges that test our faith. Let us draw strength from the example of the Canaanite woman, embracing trust and perseverance. May we, like her, approach God with boldness and humility, knowing that our faith can move mountains.