--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 8/3/11 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 8/3/11 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/08/02/daily-readings-reflection-for-8311#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 8/3/11 Aug 2, 2011 7:00:49 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Scripture: Lectionary 408. Nm 12:1-13. Psalm 51:3-4.5-6.6-7.12-13.  Matthew 14: 22-36 [Tuesday's Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/080211.shtml) Repentance, intercession, and healing are the themes that jump out of the readings that we hear or read today in the liturgy of the word.  The most powerful of the penitential psalms Psalm 51 (or 50 in some versions) gives our motivation to confess and repent of our sinfulness before God and each other.  It is a perfect psalm for response as we hear the tragic complaining and blaming that Moses' siblings, Miriam and Aaron, pile upon him.  They start with blaming him for having married a woman from Africa, a Cushite.  Expectations were for Israelites to marry only Israelites. They reveal what is really boiling within them--jealousy for a role like that of Moses. They want to be acclaimed by the people as leaders, as prophets, and as intercessors.  God makes it clear that the more humble and meek Moses is God's chosen vessel of clay but molded into a leader by his fidelity on so many occasions. Miriam and Aaron stir up the whole community and create trouble for him.  Only God can save the day!  God's intervention clears Moses and punishes Miriam who is struck with a whitening of her skin called "leprosy."  Both Moses and Aaron are struck with fear and pray to God to remove the blemish inflicted upon her. God's mercy is plentiful and more powerful to heal than God's justice. Miriam will be able to come back into the camp after seven days healed of her leprosy.  "However, the vision of a harmonious people inspired at Mount Sinai to follow God through the wilderness has been compromised, and it will be even further diminished in subsequent chapters." (Etz Hayim:Torah Commentary, p.835). Miriam will die at Kadesh and not enter the Promised Land; this will happen to Moses too who is granted to see the beauty of the promised dwelling place for the Israelites but will not lead the people into it. Joshua, the son of Nun will lead them into their land flowing with milk and honey. Jesus and Peter are the focus of our Gospel reading.  Here we see Peter failing in his trust of Jesus because of his fear of sinking into the waters even though he had made some progress.  We all do this in falling back into our regular lists of sins and bad habits even though we say we have made a firm purpose of not doing so.  We fear to follow Jesus all the way when the waters of life look too foreboding. We thus fall back into our own desires and are haunted by our fears and anxieties.  Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are offered the helping hands of Jesus to pull us back into the safety of the boat (our family, our community, our church). There we realize that Jesus again calls us not to be afraid.  We come to our senses through the help of the sacraments and through others who follow Jesus and we affirm with the apostles in the boat, "Undoubtedly, you (Jesus) are the Son of God." All three readings are an excellent way of preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We sing out with the Psalm Response: "Be merciful, Lord, for we have sinned." (Psalm 51:3). 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