Daily Readings - Thu Aug 03 2017
Exodus
16Moses did everything just as the LORD commanded him.17So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.18When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts.19Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the LORD commanded him.20He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.21Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD commanded him.34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.35Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.36In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;37but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out-until the day it lifted.38So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
Matthew
47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful images of God’s presence and the ultimate fulfillment of His plan. The first reading from Exodus describes the completion of the tabernacle, a sacred space where God dwells among His people. Moses carefully follows God’s instructions, and the tabernacle is filled with the glory of the Lord, symbolized by the cloud. This cloud not only signifies God’s presence but also guides the Israelites on their journey, reminding us that God is both with us and leading us. The tabernacle becomes a place of encounter, where the divine and human meet.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the net to describe the kingdom of heaven. The net gathers all kinds of fish, good and bad, but at the end of the age, they are separated. This parable reminds us that our lives are not without consequence. The choices we make, the way we live, and the love we share will ultimately be revealed. Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of heaven is not just a future reality but also a present call to live in a way that reflects God’s justice and mercy. The parable also highlights the role of the scribe, who draws from the treasure of God’s wisdom, both old and new, to guide others in understanding the kingdom.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live in the presence of God and how we prepare for the ultimate encounter with Him. Like the tabernacle, our lives should be a place where God’s glory dwells, and like the scribe, we should share the richness of God’s wisdom with others. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects God’s presence? Are we using the gifts and talents He has given us to build up the kingdom? May we strive to be good fish in the net, living with purpose and integrity, so that when the time of separation comes, we may be found worthy to dwell in God’s eternal presence.