Daily Readings - Mon Aug 04 2025
Numbers
4The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat!5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost-also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.6But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"7The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin.8The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil.9When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.10Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.11He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?12Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers?13Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!'14I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.15If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now-if I have found favor in your eyes-and do not let me face my own ruin."
Matthew
13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.18"Bring them here to me," he said.19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, gratitude, and God’s providence. The first reading from Numbers describes the Israelites’ discontent in the wilderness. Having grown tired of the manna provided by God, they yearn for the flesh and bounty they once enjoyed in Egypt. Their ingratitude and lack of faith lead to frustration, even for Moses, who feels the weight of leading such a complaining people. This passage reminds us of the human tendency to overlook God’s consistent provision and to focus instead on what we lack.
In contrast, the Gospel from Matthew presents a scene of profound trust and abundance. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds, takes five loaves and two fish and multiplies them to feed thousands. This miracle underscores God’s ability to provide beyond our wildest expectations when we trust in His plan. While the Israelites in the wilderness failed to see God’s goodness in the manna, Jesus reveals the true nature of God as a Father who satisfies our deepest needs.
These readings challenge us to examine our own attitudes toward life’s challenges and blessings. How often do we, like the Israelites, focus on what we lack rather than what we have? How readily do we trust in God’s providence, even when resources seem scarce? Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and fish calls us to surrender our limitations to Him, trusting that He will transform them into abundance. Let us cultivate gratitude for the “manna” in our lives and place our trust in the God who always provides, even in the wilderness.