Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 17, 2017
First Reading: Exodus 1.8-14, 22
8Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.11Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.12But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.22And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Psalm 124
1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;2If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:3Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:4Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:5Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.6Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.7Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.8Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Sermon
The first reading from Exodus describes a time of great turmoil for the Israelites in Egypt. A new pharaoh, unaware of Joseph’s contributions to Egypt, views the growing Israelite population as a threat. To suppress them, he imposes harsh labor and decrees the murder of all Hebrew male infants by casting them into the Nile. This narrative sets the stage for the eventual deliverance of the Israelites, highlighting the tension between human oppression and God’s providence. It reminds us that even in darkness, God’s plan is at work, preparing the way for liberation.
This passage invites us to reflect on the human condition and the persistence of evil. The Egyptians’ fear of the Israelites leads to unjust policies, revealing how fear can distort judgment and lead to cruelty. Yet, amidst this suffering, the Israelites’ resilience and faith endure. Their story mirrors our own struggles with injustice and hardship, encouraging us to trust in God’s fidelity even when His ways seem hidden.
In our daily lives, we face our own forms of oppression—whether societal, personal, or spiritual. Like the Israelites, we are called to perseverance and hope. The reading reminds us that God’s plan often unfolds in ways we cannot see, and our trials can be the foundation for future grace. Let us pray for the courage to stand against injustice and for the faith to trust in God’s providence, even in the darkest of times.