Daily Readings - Mon Jul 29 2019
Exodus
15Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written.16The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.17When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp."18But he said, "It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear."19And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.20He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it.21And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?"22And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.23For they said to me, 'Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'24So I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."30The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."31So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people have sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.32But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written."33But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.34But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them."
Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
John
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."24Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"27She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
Luke
38Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.40But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."41But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, crisis, and redemption. The first reading from Exodus recounts the story of the golden calf, where the Israelites, in Moses' absence, succumb to impatience and idolatry. Moses, bearing the tablets of the covenant, descends to find his people in disarray. His anger leads him to shatter the tablets, yet he intercedes with God, seeking mercy for his people. This episode underscores the fragility of faith and the crucial role of leadership in restoring divine connection.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to John, where Jesus engages with Martha after Lazarus's death. Martha's statement, "I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you," reveals her deep faith. Jesus responds by declaring Himself the Resurrection and Life, offering a profound theological truth. Martha's confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," highlights her unwavering belief amidst grief. This exchange illustrates the transformative power of faith in the face of death and loss.
These readings intersect at the theme of faith in crisis. The Exodus story warns against the consequences of faltering faith, while John's narrative presents faith as a source of hope and resurrection. Moses intercedes, prefiguring Jesus, the ultimate mediator. Both stories remind us that true faith navigates uncertainty and despair, trusting in God's plan.
In daily life, these readings encourage us to hold fast to faith during trials. Like Martha, we can affirm our belief in Jesus, recognizing Him as our source of life. Let us trust in His power to overcome death and sin, and may our faith be a beacon of hope in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: maintain faith, for in Jesus, we find eternal life and redemption.