Daily Readings - Mon Aug 07 2017

First Reading - Numbers 11.4b-15

⁴So then, the mix of common people, who had ascended with them, were enflamed with desire, and sitting and weeping, with the sons of Israel joining them, they said, "Who will give us flesh to eat⁵We remember the fish that we ate freely in Egypt; we call to mind the cucumbers, and melons, and leeks, and onions, and garlic⁶Our life is dry; our eyes look out to see nothing but manna.⁷Now the manna was like coriander seed, but with the color of bdellium⁸And the people wandered about, gathering it, and they crushed it with a millstone, or ground it with a mortar; then they boiled it in a pot, and made biscuits out of it, with a taste like bread made with oil⁹And when the dew descended in the night over the camp, the manna descended together with it¹⁰And so, Moses heard the people weeping by their families, each one at the door of his tent. And the fury of the Lord was greatly enflamed. And to Moses also the matter seemed intolerable¹¹And so he said to the Lord: "Why have you afflicted your servant? Why do I not find favor before you? And why have you imposed the weight of this entire people upon me¹²Could I have conceived this entire multitude, or have given birth to them, so that you might say to me: Carry them in your bosom, as a nursemaid usually carries a little infant, and bring them into the land, about which you have sworn to their fathers¹³From where would I obtain the flesh to give to so great a multitude? They weep against me, saying, ‘Give us flesh, so that we may eat.¹⁴I alone am unable to sustain this entire people, because it is too heavy for me¹⁵But if it seems to you otherwise, I beg you to put me to death, and so may I find grace in your eyes, lest I be afflicted with such evils.

Gospel - Matthew 14.22-36

Matthew

Chapter 14

²²And Jesus promptly compelled his disciples to climb into the boat, and to precede him in crossing the sea, while he dismissed the crowds²³And having dismissed the multitude, he ascended alone onto a mountain to pray. And when evening arrived, he was alone there²⁴But in the midst of the sea, the boat was being tossed about by the waves. For the wind was against them²⁵Then, in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking upon the sea²⁶And seeing him walking upon the sea, they were disturbed, saying: "It must be an apparition." And they cried out, because of fear²⁷And immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying: "Have faith. It is I. Do not be afraid.²⁸Then Peter responded by saying, "Lord, if it is you, order me come to you over the waters.²⁹And he said, "Come." And Peter, descending from the boat, walked over the water, so as to go to Jesus³⁰Yet truly, seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid. And as he began to sink, he cried out, saying: "Lord, save me.³¹And immediately Jesus extended his hand and took hold of him. And he said to him, "O little in faith, why did you doubt?³²And when they had ascended into the boat, the wind ceased³³Then those who were in the boat drew near and adored him, saying: "Truly, you are the Son of God.³⁴And having crossed the sea, they arrived in the land of Genesaret³⁵And when the men of that place had recognized him, they sent into all that region, and they brought to him all who had maladies³⁶And they petitioned him, so that they might touch even the hem of his garment. And as many as touched it were made whole

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's providence. The first reading from Numbers describes the Israelites' discontent with the manna provided by God in the wilderness, expressing a deep-seated longing for the comforts of Egypt. This passage highlights their lack of trust in God's provision and Moses' subsequent plea for relief from the burden of leadership. The second reading from Matthew presents a dramatic scene where Jesus walks on water, calming the disciples' fears and inviting Peter to step out in faith. Despite Peter's initial courage, fear creeps in, and he begins to sink, only to be saved by Jesus' merciful hand. These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the human struggle with faith and trust in the face of uncertainty. The Israelites, despite God's repeated acts of deliverance, allow their physical hunger to overshadow their spiritual trust. Similarly, Peter, in his moment of doubt, learns that even the smallest faith can be the foundation for growth. Jesus' gentle rebuke—"O little faith, why did you doubt?"—is not a condemnation but an invitation to deeper trust. In our daily lives, we often find ourselves in situations where fear and doubt arise. Like the Israelites, we may grumble against God's provision, forgetting the ways He has already blessed us. Like Peter, we may step out in faith only to feel the waves of uncertainty crashing against us. Yet, in these moments, Jesus extends His hand, reminding us that even our imperfect faith is enough to draw us closer to Him. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us learn to embrace the moments of doubt as opportunities to grow in faith, knowing that Jesus is always with us, ready to save us from the storms of life.