Daily Readings - Mon Jul 24 2017
Exodus
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"6So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,7and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.9The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.10When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.11They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?12Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."13And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.14The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."15The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.16Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."
Matthew
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."39But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic escape of the Israelites from Pharaoh's army. As the Egyptians close in, the Israelites are gripped by fear, questioning Moses' leadership. Yet Moses assures them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord." This moment of crisis becomes a moment of revelation, as God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape unharmed. The story reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, God's providence can lead us to safety and freedom.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees. When they demand a sign, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, a prophet who spent three days in the belly of a whale before preaching repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jesus implies that his own death and resurrection will be the ultimate sign for his generation. He also contrasts the faith of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom without hesitation, with the skepticism of those who refuse to see the divine presence in their midst. This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we seek signs to believe, or do we trust in God's presence even when it is unseen?
These readings intersect in their call to trust and faith. The Israelites had to trust Moses and God's promise to deliver them, even when the situation seemed hopeless. Similarly, Jesus invites us to trust in his presence and the wisdom he offers, without demanding proof. In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty and doubt, where the challenges before us seem insurmountable. Yet, these readings remind us that God is always with us, guiding us through the "sea" of life. Let us stand firm in faith, trusting that God's wonders will unfold in His time. May we, like the people of Nineveh, repent and turn to Him with open hearts, recognizing the greater wisdom and love that stands before us in Jesus Christ.