Daily Readings - Mon Jul 19 2021
Exodus
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"6So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,7and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.9The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.10When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.11They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?12Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."13And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.14The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."15The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.16Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."
Matthew
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."39But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic moment when the Israelites, having fled Egypt, find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. Faced with this impossible situation, the people cry out in fear, questioning Moses’ leadership. Yet Moses stands firm, urging the people to trust in God. With a mighty act, God parts the sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, while the Egyptians are engulfed by the returning waters. This story reminds us of God’s faithfulness and power, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different kind of challenge. Jesus is confronted by the scribes and Pharisees, who demand a sign from him to prove his authority. Jesus responds by rejecting their demand, pointing instead to the sign of Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the whale, prefiguring Christ’s own resurrection. He also references the Queen of the South, who traveled far to hear the wisdom of Solomon, emphasizing that “something greater” is now present among them. This passage calls us to recognize God’s presence in our midst and to respond with faith and openness, rather than doubt and skepticism.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the Israelites, we often face moments of fear and uncertainty, tempted to doubt God’s plan. Yet the Exodus story reminds us that God is always with us, even when the path ahead seems impossible. Like the Pharisees, we may seek signs or proofs before committing to faith, but Jesus calls us to trust in the wisdom and love that he embodies. These readings encourage us to deepen our faith, to trust in God’s providence, and to open our hearts to the presence of the divine in our lives. May we, like the Israelites and like the Queen of the South, respond with courage and humility to the greatness of God.