Daily Readings - Mon Jul 29 2019
Exodus
15Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.16The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.17When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp."18Moses replied: "It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear."19When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.20And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.21He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"22"Do not be angry, my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil.23They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'24So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!"30The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."31So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.32But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."33The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.34Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."
Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
John
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Luke
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, crisis, and redemption. The first reading from Exodus recounts the story of the golden calf, where the Israelites, in Moses' absence, succumb to impatience and idolatry. Moses, bearing the tablets of the covenant, descends to find his people in disarray. His anger leads him to shatter the tablets, yet he intercedes with God, seeking mercy for his people. This episode underscores the fragility of faith and the crucial role of leadership in restoring divine connection.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to John, where Jesus engages with Martha after Lazarus's death. Martha's statement, "I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you," reveals her deep faith. Jesus responds by declaring Himself the Resurrection and Life, offering a profound theological truth. Martha's confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," highlights her unwavering belief amidst grief. This exchange illustrates the transformative power of faith in the face of death and loss.
These readings intersect at the theme of faith in crisis. The Exodus story warns against the consequences of faltering faith, while John's narrative presents faith as a source of hope and resurrection. Moses intercedes, prefiguring Jesus, the ultimate mediator. Both stories remind us that true faith navigates uncertainty and despair, trusting in God's plan.
In daily life, these readings encourage us to hold fast to faith during trials. Like Martha, we can affirm our belief in Jesus, recognizing Him as our source of life. Let us trust in His power to overcome death and sin, and may our faith be a beacon of hope in challenging times. The moral lesson is clear: maintain faith, for in Jesus, we find eternal life and redemption.