Daily Readings - Wed Jul 21 2021
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 profound lessons from Scripture that invite us to reflect on trust, provision, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they, after their liberation from Egypt, find themselves struggling with hunger and doubt. Their murmuring against Moses and Aaron reveals a deeper struggle with trust in God's providence. Yet, in His mercy, God provides manna and quail, a tangible sign of His care and a call to trust in His daily provision. This narrative reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God is ever-present, offering us what we need to sustain us on our journey.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching the parable of the sower, a vivid illustration of how God's Word is received in different hearts. The seed that falls on good soil produces abundant fruit, symbolizing those who hear and embrace God's message with openness and receptivity. The other soils—beside the road, on rocky ground, and among thorns—represent the various ways we can fail to let God's Word take root in our lives. This parable challenges us to examine the state of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's Word can grow and bear fruit.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the call to trust in God's provision and to be receptive to His Word. Just as the Israelites needed to trust in God's daily manna, we too must trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And just as the seed requires good soil to bear fruit, our hearts must be open and receptive to the Word of God if we are to live fruitful and Spirit-filled lives. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God's provision, even in the wilderness moments? Is our heart like the good soil, ready to receive and nurture the seed of His Word? May we strive to deepen our trust in God and to cultivate hearts that are fertile ground for His grace to grow.