Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 7, 2017
First Reading: Numbers 11.4b-15
4Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.6But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."7Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.8The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.9When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.11Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?12Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,' to the land that you swore to give their fathers?13Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.'14I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.15If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness."
Psalm 81
1Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!2Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.4For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.5He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known:6"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.7In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah8Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!9There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.10I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.11"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.13Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!14I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.15Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.16But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
Gospel: Matthew 14.22-36
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,24but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."34And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick36and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's providence. The first reading from Numbers describes the Israelites' discontent with the manna provided by God in the wilderness, expressing a deep-seated longing for the comforts of Egypt. This passage highlights their lack of trust in God's provision and Moses' subsequent plea for relief from the burden of leadership. The second reading from Matthew presents a dramatic scene where Jesus walks on water, calming the disciples' fears and inviting Peter to step out in faith. Despite Peter's initial courage, fear creeps in, and he begins to sink, only to be saved by Jesus' merciful hand.
These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the human struggle with faith and trust in the face of uncertainty. The Israelites, despite God's repeated acts of deliverance, allow their physical hunger to overshadow their spiritual trust. Similarly, Peter, in his moment of doubt, learns that even the smallest faith can be the foundation for growth. Jesus' gentle rebuke—"O little faith, why did you doubt?"—is not a condemnation but an invitation to deeper trust.
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves in situations where fear and doubt arise. Like the Israelites, we may grumble against God's provision, forgetting the ways He has already blessed us. Like Peter, we may step out in faith only to feel the waves of uncertainty crashing against us. Yet, in these moments, Jesus extends His hand, reminding us that even our imperfect faith is enough to draw us closer to Him. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us learn to embrace the moments of doubt as opportunities to grow in faith, knowing that Jesus is always with us, ready to save us from the storms of life.