Daily Readings - Thu Aug 07 2025
Numbers
1In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.2Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.3They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!4Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?5Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"6Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.7The LORD said to Moses,8"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."9So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as he commanded him.10He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"11Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."13These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them.
Matthew
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two pivotal moments that invite us to reflect on faith, doubt, and trust in God’s plan. The first reading from Numbers recounts the Israelites’ murmuring against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, driven by their thirst and frustration. Moses, in his desperation, strikes the rock to bring forth water, yet this act of impatience costs him and Aaron the privilege of entering the Promised Land. This story reminds us that even leaders chosen by God can falter, and that faith requires us to trust in His providence, even when circumstances seem dire.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples who they believe Him to be, and Peter, with divine inspiration, confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This moment of profound faith is followed by Jesus’ prediction of His passion and death, which Peter cannot accept. Jesus rebukes Peter, emphasizing that His path is not one of human logic but of divine purpose. This exchange teaches us that faith is not just about recognizing who Jesus is, but also about trusting in His plan, even when it leads to the cross.
These readings challenge us to examine our own faith journey. Like the Israelites, we may sometimes doubt God’s presence in our lives, especially when we face difficulties. Like Peter, we may have moments of great insight but also struggle with trusting God’s plan when it doesn’t align with our expectations. The moral lesson here is clear: true faith requires us to trust in God’s wisdom and timing, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult. May we, like Peter, confess Jesus as the Son of God, and may we, like Moses, learn to surrender our will to His, even when it’s hard. Let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to follow Him faithfully, no matter where He leads.