Daily Readings - Mon Jul 19 2021
Exodus
5And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?6And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.9But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.10And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.17And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Matthew
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic moment when the Israelites, having fled Egypt, find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. Faced with this impossible situation, the people cry out in fear, questioning Moses’ leadership. Yet Moses stands firm, urging the people to trust in God. With a mighty act, God parts the sea, allowing the Israelites to escape, while the Egyptians are engulfed by the returning waters. This story reminds us of God’s faithfulness and power, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different kind of challenge. Jesus is confronted by the scribes and Pharisees, who demand a sign from him to prove his authority. Jesus responds by rejecting their demand, pointing instead to the sign of Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the whale, prefiguring Christ’s own resurrection. He also references the Queen of the South, who traveled far to hear the wisdom of Solomon, emphasizing that “something greater” is now present among them. This passage calls us to recognize God’s presence in our midst and to respond with faith and openness, rather than doubt and skepticism.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the Israelites, we often face moments of fear and uncertainty, tempted to doubt God’s plan. Yet the Exodus story reminds us that God is always with us, even when the path ahead seems impossible. Like the Pharisees, we may seek signs or proofs before committing to faith, but Jesus calls us to trust in the wisdom and love that he embodies. These readings encourage us to deepen our faith, to trust in God’s providence, and to open our hearts to the presence of the divine in our lives. May we, like the Israelites and like the Queen of the South, respond with courage and humility to the greatness of God.