Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 18, 2019
First Reading: Exodus 3.13-20
13Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"14God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"15God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.16Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt,17and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey."'18And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'19But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.20So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
Psalm 105
1Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!4Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!5Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,6O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!7He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.8He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,9the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,11saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."12When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,13wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,14he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,15saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"16When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread,17he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.18His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.20The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free;21he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions,22to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.23Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes.25He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.27They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words.29He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.30Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.31He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.32He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land.33He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.34He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,35which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground.36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.37Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.38Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.39He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.40They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.41He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.43So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.44And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,45that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!
Gospel: Matthew 11.28-30
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine encounter and invitation. In Exodus, Moses stands before the burning bush as God reveals His name, "I AM WHO AM," and commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This passage marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, as God prepares to liberate His people from slavery and establish a covenant with them. The name "I AM WHO AM" underscores God's eternal and unchanging nature, emphasizing that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened: "Come to me, and I will refresh you." This passage reflects Jesus' deep compassion for those struggling under the weight of life's challenges. He offers not only rest but also a way of life—taking His yoke upon us and learning from His meekness and humility. Jesus' promise of a "yoke that is easy" and a "burden that is light" contrasts with the heavy burdens imposed by the world, inviting us to trust in His grace and find true freedom in Him.
These readings are deeply connected, as both point to the theme of divine liberation. In Exodus, God liberates His people from physical slavery, while in Matthew, Jesus offers liberation from spiritual and emotional burdens. Together, they remind us that God is always near to the downtrodden and the weary. In our own lives, we are called to trust in God's eternal and unchanging nature, just as Moses did. Like the Israelites, we are invited to step into the freedom God offers, letting go of the weights that bind us. And like those who heard Jesus' words, we are called to embrace His gentle yoke, finding rest and peace in His presence. May we, like Moses and the people of Israel, respond with faith and courage to God's invitation, and may we, like those who follow Jesus, find true rest for our souls.