Daily Readings - Thu Aug 07 2025
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two pivotal moments that invite us to reflect on faith, doubt, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites’ murmuring against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, driven by their thirst and frustration. Moses, in his desperation, strikes the rock to bring forth water, yet this act of impatience costs him and Aaron the privilege of entering the Promised Land. This story reminds us that even leaders chosen by God can falter, and that faith requires us to trust in His providence, even when circumstances seem dire.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples who they believe Him to be, and Peter, with divine inspiration, confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This moment of profound faith is followed by Jesus’ prediction of His passion and death, which Peter cannot accept. Jesus rebukes Peter, emphasizing that His path is not one of human logic but of divine purpose. This exchange teaches us that faith is not just about recognizing who Jesus is, but also about trusting in His plan, even when it leads to the cross.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith journey. Like the Israelites, we may sometimes doubt God’s presence in our lives, especially when we face difficulties. Like Peter, we may have moments of great insight but also struggle with trusting God’s plan when it doesn’t align with our expectations. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith requires us to trust in God’s wisdom and timing, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult. May we, like Peter, confess Jesus as the Son of God, and may we, like Moses, learn to surrender our will to His, even when it’s hard. Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to follow Him faithfully, no matter where He leads.