Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2019
Exodus
1And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.13And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Matthew
1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on trust and receptivity in our relationship with God. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they grumble against Moses and Aaron, longing for the abundance they left behind in Egypt. God responds by providing manna and quail, a miraculous provision that also serves as a test of their faith. This story reminds us that God's care for us is constant, even in times of uncertainty, but it also challenges us to trust in His providence when our own plans and expectations are not met.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which offers a vivid lesson about the different ways people respond to God's word. The seed that falls on good soil represents those who hear and embrace the message with open hearts, bearing fruit abundantly. However, the seed that falls on rocky, thorny, or hardened ground symbolizes the various obstacles that can prevent us from truly receiving and living out the Gospel. Jesus' parable calls us to examine the condition of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's word can take root and flourish.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The Israelites' murmuring in the desert reveals a lack of trust in God's plan, while the parable of the sower highlights the importance of being receptive to God's word. Together, they invite us to reflect on our own trust and openness to God's presence in our lives. In our daily struggles and uncertainties, we are called to trust in God's providence, just as the Israelites were called to trust in the manna He provided. Similarly, we are invited to examine our hearts, to clear away the "rocks" and "thorns" that hinder our ability to receive God's word, and to nurture a spirit of openness and faith. May we, like the good soil in the parable, bear fruit in abundance, living out the love and mercy of God in all that we do.