Daily Readings - Tue Aug 03 2021
Numbers
1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Matthew
22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that explore the themes of faith, doubt, and trust in God. The first reading from Numbers 12 tells the story of Miriam and Aaron questioning Moses' leadership, driven by jealousy over his Ethiopian wife. Their envy leads them to challenge Moses' unique role as God's prophet. God intervenes, affirming Moses' special relationship with Him and punishing Miriam with leprosy. Moses' compassionate prayer for her healing underscores his humility and faith.
The Gospel from Matthew 14 shifts the focus to Jesus and His disciples. After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends His disciples into a stormy sea while He prays alone. As the disciples struggle against the waves, Jesus walks on water to them, reassuring them. Peter's initial faith, walking on water, falters as doubt creeps in, causing him to sink. Jesus rescues him, teaching a lesson on the perils of doubt. The passage concludes with the disciples worshiping Jesus and the people of Genesaret seeking His healing touch.
Both readings highlight the importance of maintaining faith amidst challenges. In Numbers, the Israelites are in the wilderness, facing leadership struggles, while in Matthew, the disciples face a literal storm. These contexts remind us that faith is tested in adversity. The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on trusting God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable.
In our daily lives, we often face personal storms—challenges that test our faith. These readings encourage us to seek God's presence and healing, just as Moses prayed for Miriam and the people touched Jesus' garment. The moral lesson is clear: faith can overcome fear and doubt. By trusting in God's providence, we find the strength to navigate life's turbulent waters, seeking His guidance and healing. Let us strive to maintain unwavering faith, knowing that God is always with us, even in the most uncertain times.