Daily Readings - Fri Jul 21 2023
Exodus
10Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.
1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,2"This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.3Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.4If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.5The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.6Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.8That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.9Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire-head, legs and inner parts.10Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.11This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.12"On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn-both men and animals-and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.14"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD -a lasting ordinance.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s mercy, freedom, and the importance of understanding the deeper meaning behind sacred laws. The first reading from Exodus recounts the institution of the Passover, a pivotal moment in Israel’s history. God instructs the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that the angel of death will “pass over” their homes, sparing their firstborn sons. This rite is not just a ritual; it is a sign of God’s covenant love and His plan to free His people from slavery. The Passover becomes a perpetual reminder of God’s saving action and the foundation of Israel’s identity as a people set apart for Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ rigid interpretation of the Sabbath law when His disciples pick grain to eat on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by referencing King David, who ate the bread of the Presence reserved for priests, and by pointing out that the priests themselves work on the Sabbath in the temple. He emphasizes that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath. Jesus declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, asserting His authority to interpret God’s law in a way that prioritizes mercy and human need over strict legalism.
These readings are connected by the theme of freedom and the proper understanding of God’s laws. In Exodus, the Passover is a law that brings freedom, while in Matthew, Jesus frees us from a narrow, legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath. Both readings remind us that God’s commands are not arbitrary rules but expressions of His love and care for His people. As we apply this to our daily lives, we are called to approach rules and traditions with discernment, ensuring that they serve the greater good and do not become obstacles to compassion and mercy. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s mercy and love to guide our actions, or do we get caught up in rigid adherence to rules? May we, like Jesus, always prioritize love and freedom, remembering that we are called to be instruments of God’s mercy in the world.