Daily Readings - Sat Jul 24 2021
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 narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the challenges of living in a world where good and evil coexist. The first reading from Exodus recounts the establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites. Moses, acting as a mediator, reads the terms of the covenant to the people, who unanimously agree to follow God's laws. This moment is sealed with the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing the sacred bond between God and His people. This act signifies their commitment to live according to God's will, trusting in His guidance and promises.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a parable that challenges us to think about the nature of good and evil. Jesus describes a field where an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. The master, rather than pulling up the weeds immediately, allows them to grow together until the harvest. This parable reminds us that in this world, good and evil often coexist, and it is not always easy to distinguish between them. The master's patience teaches us to trust in God's timing and His ultimate judgment, rather than taking matters into our own hands.
These readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The covenant in Exodus establishes a relationship based on trust and obedience, while the parable in Matthew calls us to live out that relationship with patience and faith. In our daily lives, we are called to remain faithful to our covenant with God, even when we encounter challenges and evils. Like the Israelites, we must trust in God's plan and promises, knowing that He will ultimately bring justice and peace. Let us strive to live with the same commitment and patience, trusting that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it clearly.