Daily Readings - Fri Jul 21 2017
Exodus
10Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.
14"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.7And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two significant biblical narratives that invite us to reflect on the balance between ritual observance and compassionate action. The first reading from Exodus recounts the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, culminating in the institution of the Passover as a perpetual memorial. This ritual serves as a reminder of God's deliverance and the importance of honoring divine acts through tradition.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus challenging the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the Sabbath. When His disciples pick grain to eat, Jesus defends their actions by referencing Old Testament precedents, emphasizing that human needs and compassion should sometimes take precedence over ritualistic observances. He asserts His authority over the Sabbath, highlighting that the spirit of the law, rooted in mercy, is paramount.
These readings connect by illustrating that while religious rituals and laws are foundational, they must be tempered with understanding and compassion. In Exodus, the Passover ritual commemorates God's action, while in Matthew, Jesus teaches that true religious observance must consider human welfare. This balance is crucial in our daily lives, where we are called to honor our faith traditions while responding to the needs of others with love and kindness.
As we apply these teachings, let us remember that the heart of our faith is not merely in following rules, but in embodying love and compassion. May we seek to understand the spirit behind our practices, allowing mercy to guide our actions, just as Jesus taught. In doing so, we honor God not just through rituals, but through lives lived in service and kindness to others.