Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2019
Exodus
1They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.2And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,3and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."4Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.5On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily."9Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, 'Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'"10And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.11And the LORD said to Moses,12"I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"13In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp.14And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.15When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on trust and receptivity in our relationship with God. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they grumble against Moses and Aaron, longing for the abundance they left behind in Egypt. God responds by providing manna and quail, a miraculous provision that also serves as a test of their faith. This story reminds us that God's care for us is constant, even in times of uncertainty, but it also challenges us to trust in His providence when our own plans and expectations are not met.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which offers a vivid lesson about the different ways people respond to God's word. The seed that falls on good soil represents those who hear and embrace the message with open hearts, bearing fruit abundantly. However, the seed that falls on rocky, thorny, or hardened ground symbolizes the various obstacles that can prevent us from truly receiving and living out the Gospel. Jesus' parable calls us to examine the condition of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's word can take root and flourish.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The Israelites' murmuring in the desert reveals a lack of trust in God's plan, while the parable of the sower highlights the importance of being receptive to God's word. Together, they invite us to reflect on our own trust and openness to God's presence in our lives. In our daily struggles and uncertainties, we are called to trust in God's providence, just as the Israelites were called to trust in the manna He provided. Similarly, we are invited to examine our hearts, to clear away the "rocks" and "thorns" that hinder our ability to receive God's word, and to nurture a spirit of openness and faith. May we, like the good soil in the parable, bear fruit in abundance, living out the love and mercy of God in all that we do.