Daily Readings - Tue Jul 29 2025
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.
Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
John
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Luke
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound themes of God’s presence, mercy, and the power of faith. In the first reading from Exodus, we witness Moses’ deep communion with God. The Tabernacle of the Covenant, pitched outside the camp, becomes a symbol of God’s presence among His people. Moses, as a leader and intercessor, enters the tabernacle to speak with God face to face, embodying the intimate relationship between God and His chosen ones. The Lord’s descent in a cloud and His merciful revelation of Himself as “slow to anger and rich in kindness” remind us of His steadfast love and patience. Moses’ act of bowing down and pleading for God’s presence with His people underscores the importance of prayer and trust in God’s plan.
In the Gospel, we encounter Martha, whose brother Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. Martha’s statement, “I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you,” reveals her deep faith in Jesus’ divine power. Jesus responds by declaring Himself as “the Resurrection and the Life,” offering a profound theological truth about His identity and mission. Martha’s affirmation, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” is a moment of profound faith, even in the midst of grief and uncertainty. Her response reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s love and plan, even when circumstances seem impossible.
These readings call us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Moses, we are invited to seek God’s presence in our lives, whether through prayer, worship, or moments of quiet reflection. Like Martha, we are challenged to trust in God’s mercy and power, even when we face challenges or losses. The readings remind us that faith is not about avoiding difficulties but about walking through them with confidence in God’s love. Let us strive to deepen our faith, to seek God’s presence in our lives, and to trust in His promise of eternal life. May we, like Martha, affirm our belief in Jesus as the Son of God and find hope in His words: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”