Daily Readings - Wed Jul 19 2017

First Reading - Exodus 3.1-6, 9-12

¹Now Moses was pasturing the sheep of his father-in-law Jethro, a priest of Midian. And when he had driven the flock into the interior of the desert, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb²And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. And he saw that the bush was burning and was not burnt³Therefore, Moses said, "I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.⁴Then the Lord, discerning that he proceeded on to see it, called to him from the midst of the bush, and he said, "Moses, Moses." And he responded, "Here I am.⁵And he said: "Lest you should approach here, remove the shoes from your feet. For the place on which you stand is holy ground.⁶And he said, "I am the God of your father: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he dared not look directly at God⁹And so, the outcry of the sons of Israel has come to me. And I have seen their affliction, with which they are oppressed by the Egyptians¹⁰But come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may lead my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.¹¹And Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt?¹²And he said to him: "I will be with you. And you will have this as a sign that I have sent you: When you will have brought my people out of Egypt, you will offer sacrifice to God upon this mountain.

Gospel - Matthew 11.25-27

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁵At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones²⁶Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you²⁷All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation. In Exodus, Moses experiences a miraculous encounter with God through a burning bush, symbolizing God's presence in unexpected places. God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, despite Moses' initial hesitation. This story highlights God's tendency to reveal Himself to those who are humble and willing to trust in His plan. In Matthew, Jesus praises the Father for revealing divine truths to the humble, emphasizing that spiritual understanding is not reserved for the wise or powerful, but for those with open and receptive hearts. These readings connect through the theme of humility and trust. Moses, though unsure of himself, trusted God's promise, leading to a historic act of deliverance. Similarly, Jesus teaches that divine truths are accessible to those who approach with humility. This underscores the idea that God's revelations are not limited to the elite but are available to all who seek Him with a sincere heart. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace humility and trust. Like Moses, we may face challenges that seem insurmountable, but God's presence and guidance are always available. Let us remain open to His voice, even in unexpected moments, and trust in His plan. By doing so, we allow God to work through us, just as He did through Moses. May we cultivate humility and faith, knowing that God reveals Himself to those who seek Him with a willing heart.