Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2019
Exodus
1The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.2In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.3The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."4Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.5On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."9Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'"10While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.11The LORD said to Moses,12"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"13That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.14When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.15When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on trust and receptivity in our relationship with God. The first reading from Exodus describes the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they grumble against Moses and Aaron, longing for the abundance they left behind in Egypt. God responds by providing manna and quail, a miraculous provision that also serves as a test of their faith. This story reminds us that God's care for us is constant, even in times of uncertainty, but it also challenges us to trust in His providence when our own plans and expectations are not met.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which offers a vivid lesson about the different ways people respond to God's word. The seed that falls on good soil represents those who hear and embrace the message with open hearts, bearing fruit abundantly. However, the seed that falls on rocky, thorny, or hardened ground symbolizes the various obstacles that can prevent us from truly receiving and living out the Gospel. Jesus' parable calls us to examine the condition of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's word can take root and flourish.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. The Israelites' murmuring in the desert reveals a lack of trust in God's plan, while the parable of the sower highlights the importance of being receptive to God's word. Together, they invite us to reflect on our own trust and openness to God's presence in our lives. In our daily struggles and uncertainties, we are called to trust in God's providence, just as the Israelites were called to trust in the manna He provided. Similarly, we are invited to examine our hearts, to clear away the "rocks" and "thorns" that hinder our ability to receive God's word, and to nurture a spirit of openness and faith. May we, like the good soil in the parable, bear fruit in abundance, living out the love and mercy of God in all that we do.