Daily Readings - Mon Jul 21 2025
Exodus
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"6So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him,7and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly.9The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.10When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.11They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?12Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."13And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.14The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."15The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.16Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.17And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."
Matthew
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."39But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Exodus recounts the pivotal moment when the Israelites, having fled Egypt, find themselves trapped between the pursuing army and the Red Sea. Faced with this desperation, the people's fear leads them to question Moses' leadership. Yet, Moses stands firm, assuring them of God's deliverance. This episode is a testament to the Israelites' journey of trust, as they learn to rely on God's providence even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus is confronted by Pharisees demanding a sign, seeking proof of His authority. Jesus responds by alluding to the sign of Jonah, symbolizing His own resurrection, and references the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom without needing signs. This highlights the theme of faith that transcends the need for physical signs, emphasizing instead the presence of God's word and wisdom among us.
Both readings converge on the theme of trust. The Exodus story illustrates trust in action during crisis, while Matthew's narrative underscores trust in God's presence without the need for signs. In our daily lives, these teachings remind us to trust God in moments of uncertainty and to seek faith beyond physical manifestations. Let us embrace this trust, allowing it to guide us through life's challenges, just as it guided the Israelites and enlightens us through Christ's teachings.