Daily Readings - Tue Aug 08 2023
Numbers
1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.2And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.3Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.4And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out.5And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.6And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.7Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.8With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.10When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.11And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.12Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb."13And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her--please."
Matthew
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."10And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."12Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.14Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on leadership, humility, and the true nature of purity. The first reading from Numbers recounts the story of Miriam and Aaron challenging Moses’ authority, driven by jealousy over his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. God intervenes, affirming Moses’ unique role and punishing Miriam with leprosy for her envy. This story highlights the importance of trusting in God’s chosen leaders and avoiding the pitfalls of envy.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus being questioned by Pharisees about his disciples’ disregard for traditional handwashing before eating. Jesus responds by teaching that true defilement comes not from what enters the mouth, but from what comes out of it. He criticizes the Pharisees for their focus on external rituals over inner purity, emphasizing the blindness of those who lead others without spiritual insight.
Both readings remind us of the need for inner integrity. In Numbers, it is about recognizing and respecting God’s appointed leaders, while in Matthew, it is about the heart’s condition. These lessons apply to our daily lives by urging us to focus on our own actions and words rather than judging others. The moral here is clear: cultivate humility, avoid envy, and ensure our hearts are pure. Let us strive to embody these virtues, trusting in God’s plan and focusing on our inner transformation.