Daily Readings - Tue Jul 20 2021
Exodus
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.22And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.23The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.24And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic,25clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."26Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."27So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.28The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.29But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.31Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
1Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.20Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.21And Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."
Matthew
46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.48But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust and spiritual kinship. In Exodus, we witness the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, a testament to God's power and the Israelites' faith. Moses, guided by divine wisdom, leads his people to safety, while the Egyptians meet their fate. This story underscores the theme of salvation through trust in God's plan, even when the path seems uncertain.
In Matthew, Jesus redefines family, stating that those who do God's will are his true brothers, sisters, and mother. This challenges us to see beyond biological ties and embrace a spiritual community. Jesus' message emphasizes that our actions in accordance with God's will forge deeper bonds than blood alone.
These readings remind us to trust in God's plan and nurture our spiritual relationships. In our daily lives, let us have faith in God's guidance, even when faced with uncertainty, and build a community grounded in shared values and purpose. Through this, we find our true family in Christ, united in spirit and deed.