Daily Readings - Thu Jul 17 2025
Exodus
13Moses said to God: "Behold, I will go to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ If they say to me, ‘What is his name?’ What shall I say to them?14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO AM." He said: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘HE WHO IS has sent me to you.’ 15And God said again to Moses: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is the name for me in eternity, and this is my memorial from generation to generation16Go and gather together the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: When visiting, I have visited you, and I have seen all that has befallen you in Egypt17And I have spoken in order to lead you out of the affliction of Egypt, into the land of the Canaanite, and Hittite, and Amorite, and Perizzite, and Hivite, and Jebusite, into a land flowing with milk and honey.18And they shall hear your voice. And you shall enter, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him: ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has called us. We shall go three days’ journey into the wilderness, in order to offer sacrifice to the Lord our God.19But I know that the king of Egypt will not release you, unless you go out by a powerful hand20For I will extend my hand, and I will strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do in the midst of them. After these things, he will release you
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and invitation. In Exodus, Moses experiences a pivotal moment with God in the burning bush, where he is commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God reveals His name as "I AM WHO AM," a declaration of His eternal presence and power. This encounter is not just a call to action but a revelation of God's nature—ever-present and actively involved in the lives of His people. Moses, though initially hesitant, is assured of God's mighty hand that will see the Israelites through their captivity.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened, promising rest and refreshment. He invites us to take His yoke, emphasizing that it is easy and His burden light. This invitation is rooted in Jesus' humility and meekness, offering a different kind of leadership—one of service and compassion rather than oppression.
These readings beautifully intertwine the themes of divine call and rest. In Exodus, God's call to Moses is a call to trust in His power and presence, even in the face of daunting tasks. In Matthew, Jesus' invitation is a call to surrender our burdens, finding rest in Him. Together, they remind us that our strength comes not from ourselves but from God. In our daily lives, when faced with challenges, we are called to trust in God's plan and seek rest in Jesus. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's presence and promises, and surrender our burdens to Him, finding rest and strength in His will.