Daily Readings - Sat Jul 27 2019
Exodus
3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.4And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.6And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.7And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.8And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
Matthew
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of covenant and challenge. The first reading from Exodus describes the establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites, where Moses acts as the mediator. The people commit to following God's laws, and the ritual with blood signifies the sealing of this sacred agreement. This moment is a cornerstone of Israel's identity, marking their commitment to a life guided by divine commandments.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds, which invites us to reflect on the nature of the kingdom of heaven. The parable illustrates that good and evil can coexist until the time of harvest, when separation will occur. This teaches us about patience and discernment, reminding us that judgment is not ours to make. Instead, we are called to focus on our own growth and trust in God's plan.
These readings remind us that our faith is both a commitment and a journey. Like the Israelites, we are called to live according to God's will, even when the path is uncertain. The parable encourages us to trust in God's timing and to focus on nurturing our own spiritual growth. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remain steadfast in our commitment to God, trusting that He will bring all things to fruition in His time.