Daily Readings - Tue Jul 16 2019
Exodus
1And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.2And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.3And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.5And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.6And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.7Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?8And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.9And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.10And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?14And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
Matthew
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God's providence and our response to His grace. The first reading from Exodus recounts the early life of Moses, highlighting God's intervention in the midst of adversity. Moses, destined for greatness, is saved from certain death through the courage of his mother and the compassion of Pharaoh's daughter. This act of divine providence sets the stage for Moses' future role as a leader. However, we also see Moses' initial attempt to intervene on behalf of his people, which leads to rejection and his subsequent flight to Midian. This story reminds us that even in moments of failure, God's plan continues to unfold.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus rebuking cities that witnessed miracles yet failed to repent. Jesus emphasizes that the lack of response to God's grace will have consequences, suggesting that even the most sinful cities of old would fare better on judgment day. This passage underscores the responsibility that comes with receiving God's blessings—faith and repentance are expected responses.
Both readings connect through the theme of response to divine action. Moses' story illustrates that God works through human actions, even in the face of setbacks, while Jesus' rebuke in Matthew highlights the importance of acknowledging and responding to God's grace. Together, they remind us that our lives are not our own but are part of a larger narrative guided by God's will.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are encouraged to be attentive to God's presence and to respond with humility and faith. Just as Moses was called to lead despite his flaws, we too are called to serve and respond to God's grace. Let us not take God's blessings for granted but instead live with the awareness that our actions have spiritual consequences. May we strive to be responsive to God's will, trusting in His providence and seeking to live in accordance with His plan.