Daily Readings - Wed Jul 16 2025
Exodus
1Now Moses was pasturing the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, a priest of Midian. And when he had driven the flock into the interior of the desert, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb2And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. And he saw that the bush was burning and was not burnt3Therefore, Moses said, "I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4Then the Lord, discerning that he proceeded on to see it, called to him from the midst of the bush, and he said, "Moses, Moses." And he responded, "Here I am.5And he said: "Lest you should approach here, remove the shoes from your feet. For the place on which you stand is holy ground.6And he said, "I am the God of your father: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he dared not look directly at God9And so, the outcry of the sons of Israel has come to me. And I have seen their affliction, with which they are oppressed by the Egyptians10But come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may lead my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.11And Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt?12And he said to him: "I will be with you. And you will have this as a sign that I have sent you: When you will have brought my people out of Egypt, you will offer sacrifice to God upon this mountain.
Matthew
25At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones26Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine revelation and the call to trust in God's plan. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses' encounter with the burning bush, where God commissions him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses, feeling unworthy and inadequate, questions his ability to fulfill such a daunting task. Yet, God reassures him with the promise, "I will be with you." This exchange highlights the theme of divine vocation and the importance of trusting in God's presence and guidance.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus praising the Father for revealing divine truths to the simple and humble, rather than to the wise and learned. Jesus emphasizes that true understanding comes from the Father through the Son, underscoring the necessity of humility in receiving God's revelation. Together, these readings remind us that God often calls the unlikely and the humble to fulfill His purposes, and that His grace is sufficient to overcome our limitations.
As we reflect on these passages, let us consider how they apply to our own lives. Like Moses, we may feel inadequate when faced with challenges or opportunities to serve. Yet, God's promise to be with us remains steadfast. Similarly, Jesus invites us to approach Him with childlike humility, trusting that He will reveal His truth and guidance to us. May we embrace this call to trust in God's providence and to seek His will with humble and open hearts.