Exodus 19:21-25

And the Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. "Also, let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them." But Moses said to the Lord, "The people cannot come up the Mount Sinai; For You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it." Then the Lord said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them." So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them. 

Consideration: The Lord, God, sets bounds around Mount Sinai; smoke, thunder, and lightning shake the mountain. Moses tells the commands of God to the people and priests. Moses goes back up the Mountain as commanded by God.

Moses was not prepared for what was about to occur on Mount Sinai.

See and Hear Truth

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Why do speak to the crowd in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look and do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaish's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 

You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them. "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." 

Consideration: Jesus clearly explains that many will see and hear things, but will not understand, because they lack the true faith. This continues to be true in the world today; people see but are blinded by their own passions and concerns; and hear but are deaf to the truth and pretend not to hear. But there are those who are blessed with the true faith, because they see and hear with their hearts that beat in rhythm with the Lord.

God Summons Moses

In the third month after their departure from the land of Egypt, on its first day, the children came to the desert of Sinai. After the journey from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai, they pitched camp. 

While Israel was encamped here in front of the Mountain, the Lord told Moses, "I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear me speaking to you, they may always have faith in you also." When Moses, then, had reported to the Lord the response of the people, the Lord added, "Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. Make them wash their garments and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of the people." 
On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lighting, so all the people in the camp trembled. But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the Lord came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. The Trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God answered him with thunder. When the Lord came down to the top of the Mount Sinai, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.

Consideration: The Lord, God, made himself known to the people of Israel, so that they would have faith in Moses; and his testimony, when he returned to them from the top of the mountain; and his encounter with God.

The Will of the Father

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you." But he said in reply to the one that told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Consideration: When we are in tune with the will of our Lord, we are one with him. The family of our Father in heaven is comprised of those who have lived their life doing his will, and caring for, and loving, one and other. Amen.

A Sign

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights. At the judgement, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgement the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here."

Consideration: An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign. Jesus seeks repentance from people who need to repent for their sinfulness. In repentance we will see the sign of mercy, transformation, and redemption. Amen.

The Good Seed

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: "The kingdom of God may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. When everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?' He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, "No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn. "'" 

Consideration: While the good have been complacent and unconcerned, the weeds have gathered among them. The enemy has now intertwined itself into the root system of every aspect of life. We must return to the Master Sower and pray for the remedy for this situation we are in today. In the end we shall be separated; the good from the bad. The good shall inherit everlasting life; and the bad thrown into the fire for burning. Amen.

Behold, My Servant

The Pharisees went out took council against Jesus to him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he wanted them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet. Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope. 

Consideration: Jesus, knowing that the council conspiring to put him to death withdrew. Out of love and compassion he cured all that followed him out of that place; because his time had not yet come.