Daily Readings - Fri Jul 23 2021
Exodus
1And God spoke all these words, saying,2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.3"You shall have no other gods before me.4"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,6but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.7"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.8"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.9Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.12"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.13"You shall not murder.14"You shall not commit adultery.15"You shall not steal.16"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.17"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
Matthew
18"Hear then the parable of the sower:19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.23As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound texts that guide us in understanding our relationship with God and our commitment to living according to His will. The first reading from Exodus presents the Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of God's covenant with His people. These commandments are not merely a set of rules but a blueprint for living a life that honors God and respects the dignity of others. They call us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, to respect the sanctity of life, and to uphold justice and truth in our dealings with one another.
The Gospel from Matthew offers Jesus' parable of the sower, which invites us to reflect on how we receive the Word of God. The different types of soil represent the various ways people respond to God's message. The seed that falls on the path, rocky ground, or among thorns symbolizes the challenges we face in embracing God's word fully. However, the seed that falls on good soil bears abundant fruit, illustrating the transformative power of faith when we open our hearts and minds to God's grace.
These readings are deeply connected, as both emphasize the importance of our response to God's call. The Ten Commandments provide the moral and spiritual foundation for living as God's people, while the parable of the sower challenges us to examine the state of our hearts. Together, they remind us that our faith must be lived out in concrete ways, through our choices and actions. As we navigate the complexities of daily life, we are called to cultivate hearts that are receptive to God's word, to root out distractions and sins that hinder our growth, and to bear fruit in love, compassion, and service to others. Let us strive to be the good soil, where God's word takes root and flourishes, transforming us and the world around us.