Daily Readings - Fri Jul 28 2017
Exodus
1And God spoke all these words:2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.3"You shall have no other gods before me.4"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,6but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.7"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.8"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.12"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.13"You shall not murder.14"You shall not commit adultery.15"You shall not steal.16"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.17"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Matthew
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore two profound teachings from Scripture that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Exodus presents the Ten Commandments, a foundational moral code given to the Israelites. These commandments, such as honoring the Sabbath, respecting parents, and avoiding murder or theft, outline a path to a righteous life, emphasizing trust in God and respect for others. The second reading, from Matthew, shares the parable of the sower, where Jesus illustrates how people receive God's word. Some seeds are quickly taken away, others wither under pressure, some are choked by worldly concerns, and a few flourish, bearing abundant fruit. This parable invites us to reflect on the receptiveness of our hearts to God's message.
The Ten Commandments, given in a specific historical context to guide the Israelites, remain relevant today as they call us to live in harmony with God and others. The parable of the sower, part of Jesus' teachings, uses an agricultural metaphor to highlight the importance of cultivating fertile ground for God's word. Together, these readings connect our actions to our faith, urging us to not only hear God's word but to live it deeply.
In our daily lives, we can apply these teachings by examining how we receive and act on God's message. Are we like the fertile soil, nurturing our faith and producing fruit? Or do we let challenges or worldly distractions hinder our spiritual growth? Let us strive to be the good soil, embracing God's word with openness and commitment. May we reflect on our own receptiveness, allowing God's grace to transform us, and live out the Ten Commandments as a testament to our faith.