Daily Readings - Fri Jul 21 2023
Exodus
10And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.
1And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:4And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:6And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.7And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.8And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.9Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.10And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.12For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.14And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s mercy, freedom, and the importance of understanding the deeper meaning behind sacred laws. The first reading from Exodus recounts the institution of the Passover, a pivotal moment in Israel’s history. God instructs the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death will “pass over” their homes, sparing their firstborn sons. This rite is not just a ritual; it is a sign of God’s covenant love and His plan to free His people from slavery. The Passover becomes a perpetual reminder of God’s saving action and the foundation of Israel’s identity as a people set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law when His disciples pick grain to eat on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by referencing King David, who ate the bread of the Presence reserved for priests, and by pointing out that the priests themselves work on the Sabbath in the temple. He emphasizes that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. Jesus declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, asserting His authority to interpret God’s law in a way that prioritizes mercy and human need over strict legalism.
These readings are connected by the theme of freedom and the proper understanding of God’s laws. In Exodus, the Passover is a law that brings freedom, while in Matthew, Jesus frees us from a narrow, legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath. Both readings remind us that God’s commands are not arbitrary rules but expressions of His love and care for His people. As we apply this to our daily lives, we are called to approach rules and traditions with discernment, ensuring that they serve the greater good and do not become obstacles to compassion and mercy. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s mercy and love to guide our actions, or do we get caught up in rigid adherence to rules? May we, like Jesus, always prioritize love and freedom, remembering that we are called to be instruments of God’s mercy in the world.