Daily Readings - Tue Jul 20 2021
Exodus
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,22and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.23The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.24During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.25He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."26Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."27Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea.28The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen-the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.29But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.30That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.31And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.20Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.21Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."
Matthew
46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust and spiritual kinship. In Exodus, we witness the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, a testament to God's power and the Israelites' faith. Moses, guided by divine wisdom, leads his people to safety, while the Egyptians meet their fate. This story underscores the theme of salvation through trust in God's plan, even when the path seems uncertain.
In Matthew, Jesus redefines family, stating that those who do God's will are his true brothers, sisters, and mother. This challenges us to see beyond biological ties and embrace a spiritual community. Jesus' message emphasizes that our actions in accordance with God's will forge deeper bonds than blood alone.
These readings remind us to trust in God's plan and nurture our spiritual relationships. In our daily lives, let us have faith in God's guidance, even when faced with uncertainty, and build a community grounded in shared values and purpose. Through this, we find our true family in Christ, united in spirit and deed.