Daily Readings - Thu Jul 24 2025
Exodus
1In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.9And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.20And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Matthew
10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. In Exodus, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, where God descends in a dramatic display of thunder, lightning, and smoke. This theophany is not just a spectacle; it is a moment of covenant-making. God is about to give the Ten Commandments, establishing a sacred bond with His people. The Israelites are called to sanctify themselves, to prepare their hearts and minds to receive the divine law that will shape their identity and way of life. This passage reminds us that encountering God is not a casual event but a transformative experience that demands readiness and reverence.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the purpose of parables. He explains that parables are a way of revealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to those who are open to understanding, while others remain hardened in their hearts. Jesus quotes Isaiah, emphasizing that some people see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand. This is a sobering reminder that God’s revelation is not always accepted. The disciples, however, are blessed because they have eyes that see and ears that hear. Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our own hearts: are we open to the truth, or have we allowed our hearts to grow dull?
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God’s revelation. Like the Israelites at Sinai, we are called to prepare ourselves to encounter God—whether through prayer, Scripture, or the sacraments. Like the disciples, we are blessed with the gift of faith, but we must remain attentive and receptive to God’s word. In our daily lives, this means creating space for God, seeking to understand His will, and being willing to be transformed by His truth. Let us ask ourselves: Am I open to hearing God’s voice? Am I prepared to respond with faith and obedience? May we, like the disciples, be blessed with eyes that see and ears that hear, and may our hearts remain soft and receptive to the divine revelation that comes our way.