Daily Readings - Mon Jul 28 2025
Exodus
15And Moses returned from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, written on both sides16and accomplished by the work of God. Also, the writing of God was engraved on the tablets17Then Joshua, hearing the tumult of the people shouting, said to Moses: "The outcry of battle is heard in the camp.18But he responded: "It is not the clamor of men being exhorted to battle, nor the shout of men being compelled to flee. But I hear the voice of singing.19And when he had approached to the camp, he saw the calf and the dances. And being very angry, he threw down the tablets from his hand, and he broke them at the base of the mountain20And seizing the calf, which they had made, he burnt it and crushed it, even to dust, which he scattered into water. And he gave from it to the sons of Israel to drink21And he said to Aaron, "What has this people done to you, so that you would bring upon them the greatest sin?22And he answered him: "Let not my lord be indignant. For you know this people, that they are prone to evil23They said to me: ‘Make gods for us, who may go before us. For this Moses, who led us away from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has befallen him.24And I said to them, ‘Which of you has gold?’ And they took it and gave it to me. And I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.30Then, when the next day arrived, Moses spoke to the people: "You have sinned the greatest sin. I will ascend to the Lord. Perhaps, in some way, I might be able to entreat him for your wickedness.31And returning to the Lord, he said: "I beg you, this people has sinned the greatest sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. Either release them from this offense32or, if you do not, then delete me from the book that you have written.33And the Lord answered him: "Whoever has sinned against me, him I will delete from my book34But as for you, go and lead this people where I have told you. My angel will go before you. Then, on the day of retribution, I will also visit this sin of theirs.
Matthew
31He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field32It is, indeed, the least of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is greater than all the plants, and it becomes a tree, so much so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches.33He spoke another parable to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of fine wheat flour, until it was entirely leavened.34All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the crowds. And he did not speak to them apart from parables35in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, saying: "I will open my mouth in parables. I will proclaim what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, patience, and the transformative power of God's grace. The first reading from Exodus recounts the story of the golden calf, a moment of profound infidelity by the Israelites. While Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the people grow impatient and, in their fear and doubt, turn to idolatry. Moses, upon descending the mountain, is met with the sight of their sin, and in his anger, he shatters the tablets of the covenant. Yet, in the midst of this brokenness, Moses intercedes for his people, pleading with God to forgive their sin. This passage reminds us of the human tendency to falter and the importance of intercession and mercy.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a stark contrast through the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven begins small—like a tiny seed or a pinch of yeast—but it grows to transform the entire world. These parables invite us to trust in the slow, often invisible work of God’s grace in our lives and in the world. Just as the mustard seed becomes a tree that shelters the birds, and the leaven permeates the entire dough, so too can our small acts of faith and love lead to profound change.
Together, these readings challenge us to embrace both the reality of our weaknesses and the hope of transformation. Like the Israelites, we are prone to impatience and doubt, but like Moses, we can turn to God in prayer, seeking forgiveness and guidance. And like the mustard seed and the leaven, our faith, though it may seem small, has the power to grow and transform us. Let us cultivate patience and trust in God’s plan, knowing that even in our brokenness, God’s mercy and grace can bring new life.