Daily Readings - Wed Aug 02 2017

First Reading - Exodus 34.29-35

²⁹And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.³⁰And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.³¹And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.³²And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.³³And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.³⁴But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.³⁵And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Gospel - Matthew 13.44-46

Matthew

Chapter 13

⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.⁴⁵Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:⁴⁶Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses descending from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the covenant, his face radiant from his encounter with God. This radiance, a symbol of God's glory, inspires both awe and fear in the people, prompting Moses to veil his face. This veil serves as a reminder of the separation between God and humanity, emphasizing the need for a mediator—a role Moses fulfills. The Gospel reading presents two parables from Matthew, both illustrating the immense value of the Kingdom of Heaven. The treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value teach us that true spiritual riches require sacrifice and dedication. Just as the man and the merchant give up everything to obtain their treasures, we are called to prioritize our faith above all else. Connecting these readings, we see that Moses' radiance reflects the transformative power of encountering God, while the parables urge us to seek spiritual treasures with unwavering commitment. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, just as Moses did. Let us embrace the challenge to seek God with passion and dedication, recognizing that our faith is the greatest treasure we can attain.