Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 17, 2019
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.
Psalm 103
1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
Gospel: Matthew 11.25-27
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 and human response. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses is tending his father-in-law’s sheep when he comes upon a burning bush that is not consumed by fire. This miraculous sight captures his attention, and from the bush, God speaks to him, identifying Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God then commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of their oppression in Egypt. Moses, feeling inadequate, asks, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” But God assures him, “I will be with you.” This exchange highlights both the awe-inspiring nature of God’s presence and the human tendency to question our own abilities when called to great tasks.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father, praising Him for revealing divine truths not to the wise and powerful but to the humble and simple-hearted. He emphasizes the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son, stating that no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. This passage underscores the importance of humility and trust in coming to know God. Just as Moses had to trust in God’s promise to be with him, we too must approach God with a willingness to listen and surrender to His will.
These readings remind us that God often reveals Himself in unexpected ways and calls us to tasks that may seem beyond our capabilities. Like Moses, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God’s assurance is clear: He will be with us. Like the “little ones” Jesus speaks of, we are called to approach God with humility and openness, trusting that He will reveal Himself to us. In our daily lives, this means embracing our missions, whether great or small, with faith and courage, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for us. Let us, therefore, surrender our fears and doubts to Him, and allow Him to work through us as He worked through Moses.