Daily Readings - Tue Jul 13 2021
Exodus
1Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.2The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.3When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.4And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.5Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.6When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."7Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?"8And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother.9And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him.10When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water."11One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.12He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.13When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?"14He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known."15When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
Matthew
20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the human response to God’s presence in our lives. The first reading from Exodus tells the story of Moses’ early life, highlighting the courage and ingenuity of his mother, who trusted God’s plan by placing her infant son in a basket and setting him afloat on the Nile. This act of faith not only saved Moses’ life but also set the stage for his eventual role as a leader of God’s people. Later, as Moses grew older, we see his impulsive attempt to intervene in the injustices he witnessed, which led to his flight to Midian. This narrative reminds us that even the greatest leaders have moments of weakness and that growth often comes through humility and patience.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus’ rebuke of the cities where He performed many miracles but saw little repentance. He laments that even Sodom and other notoriously sinful cities would have responded more readily to the same signs. This passage challenges us to consider how we respond to God’s grace and mercy in our own lives. Do we take His blessings for granted, or do we allow them to transform us? Jesus’ words remind us that spiritual complacency is a dangerous trap and that true faith must lead to conversion and a change of heart.
Both readings invite us to examine our relationship with God. Moses’ story teaches us about the importance of trust and surrender, even in uncertain circumstances. Jesus’ words, on the other hand, call us to humility and repentance, urging us not to ignore the signs of God’s presence in our lives. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we open to God’s plan, even when it feels unpredictable? Do we allow His grace to transform us, or do we remain indifferent? May we learn to trust in His providence and respond with hearts that are humble, repentant, and open to His will.