Daily Readings - Sat Jul 17 2021

³⁷The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.³⁸Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.³⁹With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.⁴⁰Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.⁴¹At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt.⁴²Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.

Matthew

Chapter 12

¹⁴But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.¹⁵Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,¹⁶warning them not to tell who he was.¹⁷This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:¹⁸"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.¹⁹He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.²⁰A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.²¹In his name the nations will put their hope."

Sermon

The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, marking the end of their 430-year sojourn. The text emphasizes the urgency of their exit, as they left with unleavened bread, unable to wait for it to rise. This moment is not just a historical event but a sacred observance, a night the Lord Himself led His people out of slavery. It is a reminder of God's deliverance and the importance of remembering His saving acts. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who, aware of the Pharisees' plot against Him, withdrew and continued His ministry of healing. The passage is filled with quiet power, as Jesus avoids confrontation and instead fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of the gentle Messiah. He is the Servant who does not break the bruised reed or extinguish the smoldering wick, offering hope to all nations. This image contrasts sharply with the world's notion of power, revealing a Savior who triumphs through humility and compassion. Both readings invite us to reflect on trust and hope. Like the Israelites, we are called to trust in God's providence, even in uncertain times. Jesus shows us that true strength lies not in dominance but in gentleness and mercy. Let us ask for the grace to trust in God's plan and to live with the humility and compassion of Christ, bringing hope to a world in need.