Daily Readings - Thu Jul 20 2017

First Reading - Exodus 3.13-20

¹³Moses said to God: "Behold, I will go to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ If they say to me, ‘What is his name?’ What shall I say to them?¹⁴God said to Moses, "I AM WHO AM." He said: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘HE WHO IS has sent me to you.’ ¹⁵And God said again to Moses: "Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is the name for me in eternity, and this is my memorial from generation to generation¹⁶Go and gather together the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: When visiting, I have visited you, and I have seen all that has befallen you in Egypt¹⁷And I have spoken in order to lead you out of the affliction of Egypt, into the land of the Canaanite, and Hittite, and Amorite, and Perizzite, and Hivite, and Jebusite, into a land flowing with milk and honey.¹⁸And they shall hear your voice. And you shall enter, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him: ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has called us. We shall go three days’ journey into the wilderness, in order to offer sacrifice to the Lord our God.¹⁹But I know that the king of Egypt will not release you, unless you go out by a powerful hand²⁰For I will extend my hand, and I will strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do in the midst of them. After these things, he will release you

Gospel - Matthew 11.28-30

Matthew

Chapter 11

²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls³⁰For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine revelation and comfort. The first reading from Exodus 3:13-20 describes Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. God reveals His name as "I AM WHO AM," signifying His eternal presence and commitment to His people. This moment is pivotal as it commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, showcasing God's plan for deliverance. The second reading from Matthew 11:28-30 shifts to Jesus' invitation to those burdened, offering rest and relief. Jesus presents Himself as meek and humble, promising that His yoke is easy and His burden light, emphasizing trust and reliance on Him. These readings connect through the theme of trust and divine deliverance. In Exodus, God's revelation to Moses is a call to trust in His plan for rescue. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus calls us to trust Him with our burdens. Both narratives highlight the importance of surrendering to God's will, whether in leading a nation out of slavery or in finding personal rest amidst life's challenges. In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's providence. Just as Moses trusted God to lead the Israelites, we are invited to trust Jesus with our struggles. The moral lesson here is one of faith and surrender. When we are weary, we can find comfort in Jesus' promise of rest. By trusting in God's eternal plan, we can navigate life's difficulties with grace and find peace in His presence. Let us embrace this invitation to trust, knowing that God's deliverance and rest are always available to us.