Daily Readings - Thu Aug 05 2021
Numbers
1Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.2And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
Matthew
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and the challenges of following God’s plan. In the first reading from Numbers, the Israelites find themselves in the wilderness, struggling with thirst and doubt. Despite the miracles they had witnessed, they grumble against Moses and Aaron, questioning God’s provision. Moses, in a moment of weakness, strikes the rock to bring forth water, but his lack of full trust in God’s instructions means he will not enter the Promised Land. This story reminds us that faith is not just about believing in God’s existence but trusting in his plan, even when the path is unclear.
In the Gospel, Jesus takes his disciples to a pivotal moment of revelation. He asks them who people think he is, and Peter, inspired by God, confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus praises Peter for this faith, calling him the rock upon which he will build his Church. Yet, when Jesus begins to speak of his suffering and death, Peter rebels, unable to accept the idea of a Messiah who must endure pain and defeat. Jesus gently rebukes him, reminding him that true faith requires surrendering our own understanding and embracing God’s will, even when it leads to the cross.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith. Like the Israelites, we often face moments of doubt and impatience, questioning God’s plan when things don’t go as we expect. Like Peter, we may have moments of great insight and courage, only to falter when the road ahead seems difficult. The moral lesson is clear: faith is not about avoiding struggles but trusting in God’s goodness and wisdom, even when the journey is hard. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, to follow him faithfully, and to embrace the cross as a part of our own journey toward eternal life.