Daily Readings - Tue Aug 05 2025
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 stories that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God’s presence in our lives. The first reading from Numbers tells the story of Miriam and Aaron questioning Moses’ leadership because of his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. Their jealousy and pride lead them to challenge Moses, but God defends him, affirming Moses’ unique role as a faithful servant. Miriam is afflicted with leprosy as a consequence of their rebellion, but Moses’ prayer for her healing shows his compassion and intercession. This story reminds us of the dangers of envy and the importance of humility, while also highlighting Moses’ exceptional relationship with God.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus walking on the water. After feeding the crowds, Jesus sends his disciples ahead in a boat while he prays alone on a mountain. The disciples face a storm, and in their fear, they see Jesus walking toward them and think he is a ghost. Peter, in a moment of boldness, asks to join Jesus on the water, but his faith falters when he feels the strong wind. Jesus rescues him, gently rebuking his lack of faith. This story underscores the importance of trusting in God’s presence, even when circumstances seem impossible or frightening. It also shows that even in our doubt, Jesus is always ready to save us.
Both readings call us to examine our own faith and trust in God. Like Miriam and Aaron, we may sometimes let jealousy or pride cloud our judgment, but God’s justice and mercy are always at work. Like Peter, we may waver in our faith when challenges arise, but Jesus’ promise to be with us remains steadfast. These stories remind us that faith is not about being perfect; it’s about turning to God in every moment, even when we feel weak or uncertain. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan, to humbly acknowledge our limitations, and to reach out for his saving hand, just as Peter did. In doing so, we can walk more confidently on the “waters” of our own lives, knowing that Jesus is always with us.