Daily Readings - Tue Aug 03 2021
Numbers
1Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.2"Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.3(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)4At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out.5Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward,6he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.7But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.8With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"9The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.10When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam-leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;11and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.12Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away."13So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!"
Matthew
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."29"Come," he said.30Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him36and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that explore the themes of faith, doubt, and trust in God. The first reading from Numbers 12 tells the story of Miriam and Aaron questioning Moses' leadership, driven by jealousy over his Ethiopian wife. Their envy leads them to challenge Moses' unique role as God's prophet. God intervenes, affirming Moses' special relationship with Him and punishing Miriam with leprosy. Moses' compassionate prayer for her healing underscores his humility and faith.
The Gospel from Matthew 14 shifts the focus to Jesus and His disciples. After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends His disciples into a stormy sea while He prays alone. As the disciples struggle against the waves, Jesus walks on water to them, reassuring them. Peter's initial faith, walking on water, falters as doubt creeps in, causing him to sink. Jesus rescues him, teaching a lesson on the perils of doubt. The passage concludes with the disciples worshiping Jesus and the people of Genesaret seeking His healing touch.
Both readings highlight the importance of maintaining faith amidst challenges. In Numbers, the Israelites are in the wilderness, facing leadership struggles, while in Matthew, the disciples face a literal storm. These contexts remind us that faith is tested in adversity. The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on trusting God's plan, even when circumstances seem insurmountable.
In our daily lives, we often face personal storms—challenges that test our faith. These readings encourage us to seek God's presence and healing, just as Moses prayed for Miriam and the people touched Jesus' garment. The moral lesson is clear: faith can overcome fear and doubt. By trusting in God's providence, we find the strength to navigate life's turbulent waters, seeking His guidance and healing. Let us strive to maintain unwavering faith, knowing that God is always with us, even in the most uncertain times.