Daily Readings - Wed Jul 31 2019
Exodus
29And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.30And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.31And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.32And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.33And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.34But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.35And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Matthew
44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound images of encountering the divine. In Exodus, Moses descends from Mount Sinai, his face radiant from his intimate conversation with God. This radiance is so awe-inspiring that the people are afraid to approach him, forcing Moses to veil his face. Yet, when he speaks to God, he removes the veil, symbolizing the direct and unobstructed relationship he has with the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus tells two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven: the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great value. Both stories emphasize the joy and sacrifice required to possess something of ultimate worth.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Moses’ radiance reminds us that encountering God transforms us, often in ways that others can see. The veil Moses wears suggests that while we may hide our true selves from the world, we must be unmasked before God. The parables in Matthew challenge us to consider what we are willing to give up in order to possess the greatest treasure—God’s love and grace. Just as the man in the parable sells everything to buy the field, we are called to prioritize our spiritual lives above all else.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to seek God with the same joy and determination as the characters in the parables. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to let go of distractions and sins that prevent me from fully embracing God’s presence? Like Moses, may our encounters with God leave us transformed and radiant. And like the man who found the treasure, may we cherish the Kingdom of Heaven above all else, willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to live in accordance with God’s will.