Daily Readings - Sat Jul 24 2021
Exodus
3Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do."4And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.5And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.6And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient."8And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."
Matthew
24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'28He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'29But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the challenges of living in a world where good and evil coexist. The first reading from Exodus recounts the establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites. Moses, acting as a mediator, reads the terms of the covenant to the people, who unanimously agree to follow God's laws. This moment is sealed with the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing the sacred bond between God and His people. This act signifies their commitment to live according to God's will, trusting in His guidance and promises.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a parable that challenges us to think about the nature of good and evil. Jesus describes a field where an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. The master, rather than pulling up the weeds immediately, allows them to grow together until the harvest. This parable reminds us that in this world, good and evil often coexist, and it is not always easy to distinguish between them. The master's patience teaches us to trust in God's timing and His ultimate judgment, rather than taking matters into our own hands.
These readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The covenant in Exodus establishes a relationship based on trust and obedience, while the parable in Matthew calls us to live out that relationship with patience and faith. In our daily lives, we are called to remain faithful to our covenant with God, even when we encounter challenges and evils. Like the Israelites, we must trust in God's plan and promises, knowing that He will ultimately bring justice and peace. Let us strive to live with the same commitment and patience, trusting that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it clearly.