Daily Readings - Mon Jul 12 2021
Exodus
8Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.9"Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."11So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites13and worked them ruthlessly.14They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly.22Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."
Matthew
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.35For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
Sermon
The first reading from Exodus describes a time of great trial for the Israelites in Egypt. A new pharaoh, fearful of their growing numbers, oppresses them with forced labor and decrees the death of every newborn male. This sets the stage for the eventual liberation of God’s people, highlighting the tension between human oppression and divine providence. The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus speaking about the challenges of discipleship. He warns that following him will bring division, even within families, and that true fidelity to him requires surrendering one’s life. Jesus emphasizes that those who welcome his disciples and prophets will be rewarded, and even the smallest acts of kindness to others are significant in his eyes.
These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the cost of faith and the trust required to follow God’s plan. In Exodus, the Israelites endure suffering because of Pharaoh’s fear and arrogance, yet this suffering sets the stage for their eventual liberation. In Matthew, Jesus calls his followers to embrace a life of sacrifice and trust, even when it leads to conflict and hardship. Both readings remind us that faith is not about comfort or ease but about trusting in God’s larger plan, even when the path is difficult.
In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices that require us to trust in God’s providence, even when the outcome is uncertain. Like the Israelites, we may experience trials that test our endurance and faith. Like Jesus’ disciples, we are called to prioritize our relationship with him above all else. Let us reflect on where we might be called to surrender our own will or comfort for the sake of following Christ. Even in small acts of kindness or fidelity, we participate in God’s work and store up rewards in heaven. May we embrace the cross of discipleship with courage and trust, knowing that God’s plan is always greater than our own.