Daily Readings - Thu Jul 24 2025
Exodus
1In the third month of the departure of Israel from the land of Egypt, in that day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai2Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain9the Lord said to him: "Soon now, I will come to you in the mist of a cloud, so that the people may hear me speaking to you, and so that they may believe you continuously." Therefore, Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord10who said to him: "Go to the people, and sanctify them today, and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments11And let them be prepared on the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will descend, in the sight of all the people, over Mount Sinai16And now, the third day arrived and the morning dawned. And behold, thunders began to be heard, and also lightning flashed, and a very dense cloud covered the mountain, and the noise of the trumpet resounded vehemently. And the people who were in the camp were fearful17And when Moses had led them out to meet God, from the place of the camp, they stood at the base of the mountain18Then all of Mount Sinai was smoking. For the Lord had descended over it with fire, and smoke ascended from it, as from a furnace. And the entire mountain was terrible19And the sound of the trumpet gradually increased to be louder, and extended to be longer. Moses was speaking, and God was answering him20And the Lord descended over Mount Sinai, to the very top of the mountain, and he called Moses to its summit. And when he had ascended there
Matthew
10And his disciples drew near to him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?11Responding, he said to them: "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but it has not been given to them12For whoever has, it shall be given to him, and he shall have in abundance. But whoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him13For this reason, I speak to them in parables: because seeing, they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand14And so, in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said, ‘Hearing, you shall hear, but not understand; and seeing, you shall see, but not perceive15For the heart of this people has grown fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and then I would heal them.16But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear17Amen I say to you, certainly, that many of the prophets and the just desired to see what you see, and yet they did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and yet they did not hear it
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. In Exodus, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, where God descends in a dramatic display of thunder, lightning, and smoke. This theophany is not just a spectacle; it is a moment of covenant-making. God is about to give the Ten Commandments, establishing a sacred bond with His people. The Israelites are called to sanctify themselves, to prepare their hearts and minds to receive the divine law that will shape their identity and way of life. This passage reminds us that encountering God is not a casual event but a transformative experience that demands readiness and reverence.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the purpose of parables. He explains that parables are a way of revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to those who are open to understanding, while others remain hardened in their hearts. Jesus quotes Isaiah, emphasizing that some people see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand. This is a sobering reminder that God’s revelation is not always accepted. The disciples, however, are blessed because they have eyes that see and ears that hear. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own hearts: are we open to the truth, or have we allowed our hearts to grow dull?
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God’s revelation. Like the Israelites at Sinai, we are called to prepare ourselves to encounter God—whether through prayer, Scripture, or the sacraments. Like the disciples, we are blessed with the gift of faith, but we must remain attentive and receptive to God’s word. In our daily lives, this means creating space for God, seeking to understand His will, and being willing to be transformed by His truth. Let us ask ourselves: Am I open to hearing God’s voice? Am I prepared to respond with faith and obedience? May we, like the disciples, be blessed with eyes that see and ears that hear, and may our hearts remain soft and receptive to the divine revelation that comes our way.