Daily Readings - Tue Jul 15 2025
Exodus
1After these things, a man from the house of Levi went out, and he took a wife from his own stock2And she conceived and bore a son. And seeing him to be handsome, she hid him for three months3And when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a small basket woven of bulrushes, and she smeared it with pitch as well as tar. And she placed the little infant inside, and she laid him in the sedges by the bank of the river4His sister was standing at a distance and was wondering what would happen5Then, behold, the daughter of Pharaoh descended to wash in the river. And her maids walked along the edge of the cove. And when she had seen the small basket among the papyruses, she sent one of her servants for it. And when it was brought6she opened it; and realizing that within it was a little one crying, she took pity on him, and she said: "This is one of the infants of the Hebrews.7And the sister of the boy said to her: "If you wish, I will go and call to you a Hebrew woman, who will be able nurse the infant.8She responded, "Go." The maid went directly and called her mother9And the daughter of Pharaoh said to her: "Take this boy and nurse him for me. I will give you your wages." The woman took and nursed the boy. And when he was mature, she delivered him to the daughter of Pharaoh10And she adopted him in place of a son, and she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I took him from the water.11In those days, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his brothers. And he saw their affliction and an Egyptian man striking a certain one of the Hebrews, his brothers12And when he had looked around this way and that, and had seen no one nearby, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand13And going out the next day, he spotted two Hebrews quarrelling violently. And he said to him who was causing the injury, "Why do you strike your neighbor?14But he responded: "Who appointed you as leader and judge over us? Do you want to kill me, just as yesterday you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and he said, "How has this word become known?15And Pharaoh heard this talk, and he sought to kill Moses. But fleeing from his sight, he stayed in the land of Midian, and he sat down next to a well
Matthew
20Then he began to rebuke the cities in which many of his miracles were accomplished, for they still had not repented21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in haircloth and ashes22Yet truly, I say to you, Tyre and Sidon shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment23And you, Capernaum, would you be exalted all the way to heaven? You shall descend all the way to Hell. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, perhaps it would have remained, even to this day24Yet truly, I say to you, that the land of Sodom shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s providence and our response to it. The first reading from Exodus tells the story of Moses’ early life, highlighting the courage and faith of his mother and sister who trusted in God’s plan to save him from Pharaoh’s decree. Moses, as a young man, attempts to defend his people but is forced to flee after his impulsive actions. This story reminds us that even the greatest leaders have moments of weakness, but it is through these experiences that God shapes them for their mission.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus rebuking the cities that witnessed His miracles but failed to repent. Jesus laments that even the notoriously sinful cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would have responded more humbly to the signs He performed. This passage challenges us to examine our own response to God’s grace and mercy. Have we allowed the miracles of God’s presence in our lives to lead us to conversion, or do we remain indifferent?
Both readings call us to humility and trust in God’s plan. Moses’ story teaches us that even in uncertain and challenging times, God is at work, guiding us toward our purpose. Jesus’ words remind us that receiving God’s gifts is not enough; we must respond with repentance and a willingness to follow Him. Let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s presence in my life? Am I trusting in His plan, even when the path is unclear? Let us strive to live with the faith and humility of Moses’ mother and sister, and may we turn to the Lord with hearts ready to repent and follow Him.