In today’s first reading from (Exodus 32:15–24, 30–34), we see a striking moment of heartbreak and holy anger. Moses descends from Mount Sinai carrying the tablets inscribed by the very finger of God, only to find the people of Israel worshipping a golden calf.
In disbelief and anguish, “Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 32:19). These weren’t just stones; they represented the covenant between God and His people, shattered by idolatry and ingratitude.
The Israelites had seen miracles. They were led through the Red Sea. They were fed manna from heaven. And yet, in Moses’ absence, they turned to idols, just as we often do when God seems distant or silent. In response, Moses “took the calf they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it” (Exodus 32:20).
This act is symbolic. Drinking the dust of their own sin was a bitter reminder of the cost of disobedience. It was not just punishment, it was confrontation. A confrontation with what happens when we forget the God who delivers us.
The Psalm today reminds us of what the Israelites had forgotten:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
Yes, God is merciful, but also just. He desires hearts that remain faithful even in silence, even in waiting.
In the Gospel reading from (Matthew 13:31–35), Jesus teaches about the quiet but powerful growth of the Kingdom:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed... though it is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree” (Matthew 13:31–32).
This parable is a reminder that God’s work in us often begins small, almost invisible. But over time, through patience and trust, it grows into something mighty, a refuge for others.
He goes on:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33).
Faith spreads. Slowly. Quietly. But powerfully, when we trust and stay rooted.
So how different are we today from those children of Israel? How often do we forget God’s goodness in favor of the fleeting pleasures and material comforts? How quickly do we trade the eternal for the immediate?
Lord, May we never forget the God who brought us out of our own Egypts.
May we not grow impatient in waiting, nor turn to golden calves when He seems silent.
May we remember that His timing is not ours, but His faithfulness is always sure.
And may the mustard seed of faith within us grow, even when unseen.
God bless you,
Pal Ronnie
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