Daily Readings - Wed Jul 21 2021
Exodus
1The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.2In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.3The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."4Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.5On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."9Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.'"10While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.11The LORD said to Moses,12"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"13That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.14When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.15When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that invite us to reflect on trust, provision, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Exodus recounts the Israelites' journey through the desert, where they, after their liberation from Egypt, find themselves struggling with hunger and doubt. Their murmuring against Moses and Aaron reveals a deeper struggle with trust in God's providence. Yet, in His mercy, God provides manna and quail, a tangible sign of His care and a call to trust in His daily provision. This narrative reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, God is ever-present, offering us what we need to sustain us on our journey.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus teaching the parable of the sower, a vivid illustration of how God's Word is received in different hearts. The seed that falls on good soil produces abundant fruit, symbolizing those who hear and embrace God's message with openness and receptivity. The other soils—beside the road, on rocky ground, and among thorns—represent the various ways we can fail to let God's Word take root in our lives. This parable challenges us to examine the state of our own hearts and to cultivate a deep and fertile soil where God's Word can grow and bear fruit.
Both readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the call to trust in God's provision and to be receptive to His Word. Just as the Israelites needed to trust in God's daily manna, we too must trust in His providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And just as the seed requires good soil to bear fruit, our hearts must be open and receptive to the Word of God if we are to live fruitful and Spirit-filled lives. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God's provision, even in the wilderness moments? Is our heart like the good soil, ready to receive and nurture the seed of His Word? May we strive to deepen our trust in God and to cultivate hearts that are fertile ground for His grace to grow.