Daily Readings - Mon Jul 24 2023
Exodus
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"6So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him.7He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.8The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.9The Egyptians-all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.10As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.11They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?12Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"13Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.14The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."15Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.16Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.17I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.18The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."
Matthew
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the power of faith and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Exodus recounts the dramatic escape of the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptian army. Cornered by the Red Sea, the Israelites, filled with fear, cry out to Moses. Yet Moses, trusting in God, calms their fears and instructs them to move forward. With outstretched staff, the sea parts, allowing the Israelites to cross safely, while the Egyptians are engulfed by the returning waters. This passage underscores the importance of trusting in God even in the face of overwhelming odds.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the skepticism of the scribes and Pharisees who demand a sign from him. He responds by comparing himself to Jonah, whose three days in the belly of the whale prefigure Jesus' own resurrection. Jesus emphasizes that the generation to whom he speaks is evil and adulterous because it seeks signs rather than trusting in God's word. He points to the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah's preaching, and the Queen of the South, who came to hear Solomon's wisdom, as examples of those who responded to God's truth without requiring signs. Jesus makes it clear that faith is not about seeking proofs but about trusting in God's presence and action in our lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own faith. Like the Israelites, we often face challenges that seem insurmountable, and like the Pharisees, we may doubt God's presence or demand signs to strengthen our belief. Yet, the readings remind us that true faith is about trusting in God's providence, even when the path ahead is unclear. As Moses told the Israelites, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the great wonders of the Lord." Let us strive to live with this kind of faith, trusting that God will guide us through life's trials and lead us to safety.