Daily Readings - Tue Aug 01 2017
First Reading - Exodus 33.7-11; 34.4b-9, 28
Exodus
7And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.8And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.10And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.11And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
4And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.5And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.6And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,7Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.8And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.9And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.28And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Gospel - Matthew 13.36-43
Matthew
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's presence, mercy, and justice, inviting us to consider our spiritual journey and relationship with the divine. The Exodus narrative depicts Moses as a mediator, interceding for his people, seeking God's presence and forgiveness. The Tabernacle, pitched outside the camp, symbolizes a sacred space where God's people seek guidance and reconciliation. Moses' intimate conversation with God underscores the theme of divine mercy, as God renews the covenant, acknowledging human frailty yet offering compassion. This passage reminds us of the enduring nature of God's love and the importance of prayer and intercession in our lives.
The Gospel parable, as explained by Jesus, presents a stark contrast between good and evil, emphasizing the inevitability of judgment. The weeds, symbolizing evil, will be separated from the good seeds, representing the righteous. This parable calls us to reflect on our own lives, urging us to be mindful of our actions and align them with the values of God's kingdom. It serves as a reminder that our choices have consequences and that we are called to live virtuously, trusting in God's ultimate plan.
Both readings, though separated by time, unite in their message of God's justice and mercy. They encourage us to seek a deeper connection with God, to live righteously, and to trust in His plan. As we navigate our daily lives, may we embrace the call to be the good seeds, striving to reflect God's love and justice. Let us pray for the grace to remain faithful, mindful of our actions, and trusting in God's enduring mercy and plan for our lives.