Daily Readings - Wed Jul 19 2017

First Reading - Exodus 3.1-6, 9-12

¹Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.²And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.³And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.⁴And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.⁵And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.⁶Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.⁹Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.¹⁰Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.¹¹And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?¹²And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Gospel - Matthew 11.25-27

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁵At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.²⁶Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. In Exodus, Moses experiences a miraculous encounter with God through a burning bush, symbolizing God's presence in unexpected places. God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, despite Moses' initial hesitation. This story highlights God's tendency to reveal Himself to those who are humble and willing to trust in His plan. In Matthew, Jesus praises the Father for revealing divine truths to the humble, emphasizing that spiritual understanding is not reserved for the wise or powerful, but for those with open and receptive hearts. These readings connect through the theme of humility and trust. Moses, though unsure of himself, trusted God's promise, leading to a historic act of deliverance. Similarly, Jesus teaches that divine truths are accessible to those who approach with humility. This underscores the idea that God's revelations are not limited to the elite but are available to all who seek Him with a sincere heart. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and trust. Like Moses, we may face challenges that seem insurmountable, but God's presence and guidance are always available. Let us remain open to His voice, even in unexpected moments, and trust in His plan. By doing so, we allow God to work through us, just as He did through Moses. May we cultivate humility and faith, knowing that God reveals Himself to those who seek Him with a willing heart.