Daily Readings - Thu Jul 27 2017
Exodus
1In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on the very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai.2After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.9The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said.10And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes11and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.16On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.17Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently,19and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.20The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up
Matthew
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.15For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation, each highlighting the importance of openness and preparedness to receive God's message.
The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' arrival at Mount Sinai, where God is about to establish His covenant with them. The dramatic display of thunders, lightning, and smoke signifies the awe-inspiring presence of God. The people are instructed to prepare themselves through purification, symbolizing the need for spiritual readiness to receive divine law. This event marks the giving of the Ten Commandments, a foundational moment in their covenant with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus explains to His disciples why He uses parables. He indicates that while some are granted understanding of the kingdom's mysteries, others are not. This reflects the idea that spiritual truths are not universally received; they require a receptive heart. Jesus references Isaiah, emphasizing that some hearts have grown dull, unable to see or hear. However, the disciples are blessed with the ability to perceive, underscoring their privileged position and responsibility.
These readings connect through the theme of revelation and response. Both moments involve a select group prepared to understand and receive God's message. The Israelites at Sinai and the disciples of Jesus are called to a deeper understanding, illustrating that divine truths are not passively received but require active engagement and openness.
In our daily lives, this calls us to cultivate a receptive heart, attentive to God's voice. Just as the Israelites prepared to meet God, we must prepare ourselves through prayer and reflection. The responsibility that comes with understanding is to live according to God's will, using our insights to guide our actions and decisions. Let us embrace this call to spiritual readiness, ensuring our hearts remain open to the divine revelations in our lives.