Daily Readings - Thu Aug 07 2025
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two pivotal moments that invite us to reflect on faith, doubt, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites’ murmuring against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, driven by their thirst and frustration. Moses, in his desperation, strikes the rock to bring forth water, yet this act of impatience costs him and Aaron the privilege of entering the Promised Land. This story reminds us that even leaders chosen by God can falter, and that faith requires us to trust in His providence, even when circumstances seem dire.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples who they believe Him to be, and Peter, with divine inspiration, confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This moment of profound faith is followed by Jesus’ prediction of His passion and death, which Peter cannot accept. Jesus rebukes Peter, emphasizing that His path is not one of human logic but of divine purpose. This exchange teaches us that faith is not just about recognizing who Jesus is, but also about trusting in His plan, even when it leads to the cross.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith journey. Like the Israelites, we may sometimes doubt God’s presence in our lives, especially when we face difficulties. Like Peter, we may have moments of great insight but also struggle with trusting God’s plan when it doesn’t align with our expectations. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith requires us to trust in God’s wisdom and timing, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult. May we, like Peter, confess Jesus as the Son of God, and may we, like Moses, learn to surrender our will to His, even when it’s hard. Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to follow Him faithfully, no matter where He leads.