Daily Readings - Wed Jul 30 2025
Exodus
29And when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, he held the two tablets of the testimony, and he did not know that his face was radiant from the sharing of words with the Lord30Then Aaron and the sons of Israel, seeing that the face of Moses was radiant, were afraid to approach close by31And being called by him, they turned back, both Aaron and the leaders of the assembly. And after he had spoken to them32all the sons of Israel also now came to him. And he instructed them in all the things that he had heard from the Lord on Mount Sinai33And having completed these words, he placed a veil over his face34But when he entered to the Lord and was speaking with him, he took it off, until he exited. And then he spoke to the sons of Israel all that had been commanded to him35And they saw that the face of Moses, when he came out, was radiant, but he covered his face again, whenever he spoke to them
Matthew
44The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man finds it, he hides it, and, because of his joy, he goes and sells everything that he has, and he buys that field45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls46Having found one pearl of great value, he went away and sold all that he had, and he bought it
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful metaphors of transformation and the pursuit of divine treasure. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai, his face radiant after speaking with God. This radiance, a physical manifestation of his spiritual encounter, inspires both awe and fear in the people, prompting Moses to veil his face. This veil symbolizes the mystery and transcendence of God, reminding us of the reverence due to the divine presence.
The Gospel parables in Matthew use the imagery of a hidden treasure and a precious pearl to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven's value. These parables encourage us to seek spiritual riches with the same dedication and joy as one who discovers a great treasure. Just as Moses's encounter with God transformed him, our pursuit of the Kingdom should lead to a willingness to surrender worldly attachments for a higher purpose.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with the divine. Like Moses, we are called to encounter God, allowing this encounter to transform us. Similarly, the parables remind us that spiritual growth requires sacrifice and commitment. Let us strive to seek God with the same fervor as the merchant seeking pearls, embracing the transformative power of faith. May our lives reflect the radiance of a deep, abiding relationship with God, guiding us to prioritize eternal treasures over fleeting worldly gains.