Daily Readings - Mon Jul 29 2019
Exodus
15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.16And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.17And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.18And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.19And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.20And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.21And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?22And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.23For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.24And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.30And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.31And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.33And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.34Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
John
17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Luke
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, crisis, and redemption. The first reading from Exodus recounts the story of the golden calf, where the Israelites, in Moses' absence, succumb to impatience and idolatry. Moses, bearing the tablets of the covenant, descends to find his people in disarray. His anger leads him to shatter the tablets, yet he intercedes with God, seeking mercy for his people. This episode underscores the fragility of faith and the crucial role of leadership in restoring divine connection.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to John, where Jesus engages with Martha after Lazarus's death. Martha's statement, "I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you," reveals her deep faith. Jesus responds by declaring Himself the Resurrection and Life, offering a profound theological truth. Martha's confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," highlights her unwavering belief amidst grief. This exchange illustrates the transformative power of faith in the face of death and loss.
These readings intersect at the theme of faith in crisis. The Exodus story warns against the consequences of faltering faith, while John's narrative presents faith as a source of hope and resurrection. Moses intercedes, prefiguring Jesus, the ultimate mediator. Both stories remind us that true faith navigates uncertainty and despair, trusting in God's plan.
In daily life, these readings encourage us to hold fast to faith during trials. Like Martha, we can affirm our belief in Jesus, recognizing Him as our source of life. Let us trust in His power to overcome death and sin, and may our faith be a beacon of hope in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: maintain faith, for in Jesus, we find eternal life and redemption.