Daily Readings - Thu Aug 05 2021
Numbers
1And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.2Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.3And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!4Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?5And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,7and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,8"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."9And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"11And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.12And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."13These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
Matthew
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"14And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."20Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the challenges of following God’s plan. In the first reading from Numbers, the Israelites find themselves in the wilderness, struggling with thirst and doubt. Despite the miracles they had witnessed, they grumble against Moses and Aaron, questioning God’s provision. Moses, in a moment of weakness, strikes the rock to bring forth water, but his lack of full trust in God’s instructions means he will not enter the Promised Land. This story reminds us that faith is not just about believing in God’s existence but trusting in his plan, even when the path is unclear.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes his disciples to a pivotal moment of revelation. He asks them who people think he is, and Peter, inspired by God, confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus praises Peter for this faith, calling him the rock upon which he will build his Church. Yet, when Jesus begins to speak of his suffering and death, Peter rebels, unable to accept the idea of a Messiah who must endure pain and defeat. Jesus gently rebukes him, reminding him that true faith requires surrendering our own understanding and embracing God’s will, even when it leads to the cross.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Like the Israelites, we often face moments of doubt and impatience, questioning God’s plan when things don’t go as we expect. Like Peter, we may have moments of great insight and courage, only to falter when the road ahead seems difficult. The moral lesson is clear: faith is not about avoiding struggles but trusting in God’s goodness and wisdom, even when the journey is hard. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, to follow him faithfully, and to embrace the cross as a part of our own journey toward eternal life.