Daily Readings - Thu Aug 01 2019
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the presence of God and the ultimate judgment that awaits us. In the first reading from Exodus, we see Moses meticulously fulfilling God’s instructions to erect the tabernacle, a sacred space where God’s glory would dwell among the Israelites. The cloud and fire that cover the tabernacle symbolize God’s active and abiding presence, guiding His people through their journey. This passage reminds us that God desires to dwell among us, but it requires our fidelity to His will and our willingness to create space for Him in our lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the net to describe the kingdom of heaven. The net gathers all kinds of fish, but when it is full, the good are separated from the bad. This parable is a sobering reminder that our lives will be judged, and our choices will have eternal consequences. Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of heaven is not just about inclusion but also about purification. The scribe who brings out both the old and the new from his storehouse represents the disciple who has deeply understood the teachings of the kingdom and lives them with integrity.
These readings call us to examine our relationship with God and our commitment to living according to His will. Like the Israelites, we are called to create space for God’s presence in our lives, whether through prayer, service, or acts of love. At the same time, the parable of the net challenges us to reflect on the state of our hearts and lives. Are we living in such a way that we are prepared for the day when we will stand before God? Let us strive to be like the scribe who treasures both the old and the new, rooted in tradition yet open to the fresh movements of the Spirit. May we seek to live with integrity, knowing that our ultimate fulfillment lies in union with God.