Daily Readings - Mon Jul 24 2017
Exodus
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"6So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him.7He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.8The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.9The Egyptians-all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.11They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?12Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"13Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.14The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."15Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.16Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.17I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.18The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."
Matthew
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic escape of the Israelites from Pharaoh's army. As the Egyptians close in, the Israelites are gripped by fear, questioning Moses' leadership. Yet Moses assures them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord." This moment of crisis becomes a moment of revelation, as God parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape unharmed. The story reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming challenges, God's providence can lead us to safety and freedom.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' conversation with the Pharisees. When they demand a sign, Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, a prophet who spent three days in the belly of a whale before preaching repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jesus implies that his own death and resurrection will be the ultimate sign for his generation. He also contrasts the faith of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom without hesitation, with the skepticism of those who refuse to see the divine presence in their midst. This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we seek signs to believe, or do we trust in God's presence even when it is unseen?
These readings intersect in their call to trust and faith. The Israelites had to trust Moses and God's promise to deliver them, even when the situation seemed hopeless. Similarly, Jesus invites us to trust in his presence and the wisdom he offers, without demanding proof. In our daily lives, we often face moments of uncertainty and doubt, where the challenges before us seem insurmountable. Yet, these readings remind us that God is always with us, guiding us through the "sea" of life. Let us stand firm in faith, trusting that God's wonders will unfold in His time. May we, like the people of Nineveh, repent and turn to Him with open hearts, recognizing the greater wisdom and love that stands before us in Jesus Christ.