Daily Readings - Fri Jul 28 2017
First Reading - Exodus 20.1-17
Exodus
1And God spake all these words, saying,2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.13Thou shalt not kill.14Thou shalt not commit adultery.15Thou shalt not steal.16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Gospel - Matthew 13.18-23
Matthew
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore two profound teachings from Scripture that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Exodus presents the Ten Commandments, a foundational moral code given to the Israelites. These commandments, such as honoring the Sabbath, respecting parents, and avoiding murder or theft, outline a path to a righteous life, emphasizing trust in God and respect for others. The second reading, from Matthew, shares the parable of the sower, where Jesus illustrates how people receive God's word. Some seeds are quickly taken away, others wither under pressure, some are choked by worldly concerns, and a few flourish, bearing abundant fruit. This parable invites us to reflect on the receptiveness of our hearts to God's message.
The Ten Commandments, given in a specific historical context to guide the Israelites, remain relevant today as they call us to live in harmony with God and others. The parable of the sower, part of Jesus' teachings, uses an agricultural metaphor to highlight the importance of cultivating fertile ground for God's word. Together, these readings connect our actions to our faith, urging us to not only hear God's word but to live it deeply.
In our daily lives, we can apply these teachings by examining how we receive and act on God's message. Are we like the fertile soil, nurturing our faith and producing fruit? Or do we let challenges or worldly distractions hinder our spiritual growth? Let us strive to be the good soil, embracing God's word with openness and commitment. May we reflect on our own receptiveness, allowing God's grace to transform us, and live out the Ten Commandments as a testament to our faith.