Daily Readings - Thu Jul 24 2025
Exodus
1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,9And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever."When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD,10the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.16On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.18Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.19And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Matthew
10Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"11And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.15For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.17Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. In Exodus, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, where God descends in a dramatic display of thunder, lightning, and smoke. This theophany is not just a spectacle; it is a moment of covenant-making. God is about to give the Ten Commandments, establishing a sacred bond with His people. The Israelites are called to sanctify themselves, to prepare their hearts and minds to receive the divine law that will shape their identity and way of life. This passage reminds us that encountering God is not a casual event but a transformative experience that demands readiness and reverence.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the purpose of parables. He explains that parables are a way of revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to those who are open to understanding, while others remain hardened in their hearts. Jesus quotes Isaiah, emphasizing that some people see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand. This is a sobering reminder that God’s revelation is not always accepted. The disciples, however, are blessed because they have eyes that see and ears that hear. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own hearts: are we open to the truth, or have we allowed our hearts to grow dull?
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God’s revelation. Like the Israelites at Sinai, we are called to prepare ourselves to encounter God—whether through prayer, Scripture, or the sacraments. Like the disciples, we are blessed with the gift of faith, but we must remain attentive and receptive to God’s word. In our daily lives, this means creating space for God, seeking to understand His will, and being willing to be transformed by His truth. Let us ask ourselves: Am I open to hearing God’s voice? Am I prepared to respond with faith and obedience? May we, like the disciples, be blessed with eyes that see and ears that hear, and may our hearts remain soft and receptive to the divine revelation that comes our way.