Daily Readings - Tue Aug 01 2023
Exodus
7Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.8And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.10Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.11The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
4So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.5Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD.6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."8Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.9"O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes," he said, "then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance."28Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant-the Ten Commandments.
Matthew
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's mercy, judgment, and our call to holiness. The Exodus passage recounts Moses' intimate relationship with God, where God speaks to him face to face, emphasizing His merciful and compassionate nature. This occurs after the incident with the golden calf, highlighting God's willingness to renew His covenant with His people. The Gospel presents Jesus' explanation of the parable of the weeds, illustrating the inevitable separation of good and evil at the end of time. The righteous will shine in God's kingdom, while the wicked face judgment.
Both readings underscore the balance between God's mercy and the call to live virtuously. Exodus shows God's mercy in renewing the covenant, while Matthew's parable reminds us of the ultimate judgment. This duality invites us to reflect on our relationship with God, urging us to live with His presence in mind and to strive for holiness. The readings relate by emphasizing the covenant and the kingdom, both central to God's plan, reminding us to trust in His mercy while being mindful of our actions.
In daily life, this means being aware of God's presence and living with integrity. We are called to embrace God's mercy and to grow in holiness, preparing for the final judgment by living virtuously. Let us trust in God's mercy while striving to be the good seeds in His kingdom, shining as lights in the world.