Bible Readings - July 22, 2025

Reading I

Exodus 14:19-31

The angel of God, who had been leading Israel’s army, now moved

and went around behind them. And the column of cloud,

moving from in front of them, took up its place behind them,

so that it came between the Egyptian army and that of Israel.

And when it became dark, the cloud illumined the night;

and so the rival camps did not come any closer together all night long.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove back

the sea with a strong east wind all night long and turned the sea into dry ground.

The waters were split,

so that the Israelites entered into the midst of the sea on dry land,

with the water as a wall to their right and to their left.

The Egyptians followed in pursuit after them—all Pharaoh’s horses

and chariots and horsemen—into the midst of the sea.

But during the watch just before dawn, the LORD looked down from a column

of fiery cloud upon the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic;

and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could drive only with difficulty.

With that the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, because the LORD

is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Then the LORD spoke to Moses: Stretch out your hand over the sea,

that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots

and their horsemen.

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea

returned to its normal flow. The Egyptians were fleeing head on

toward it when the LORD cast the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.

As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the horsemen.

Of all Pharaoh’s army which had followed the Israelites into the sea,

not even one escaped.

But the Israelites had walked on dry land through the midst of the sea,

with the water as a wall to their right and to their left.

Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of Egypt.

When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore

and saw the great power that the LORD had shown against Egypt,

the people feared the LORD. They believed in the LORD and in Moses his servant.

Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9

O God, you are my God whom I seek;

for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts

like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary

to see your power and your glory,

For your kindness is a greater good than life;

my lips shall glorify you.

Thus will I bless you while I live;

lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.

As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,

and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

You are my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

My soul clings fast to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Matthew 12:50

For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Gospel

Matthew 12:43-50

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person

it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none.

Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’

But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order.

Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits

more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there;

and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.

Thus it will be with this evil generation.”

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother

and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.

[Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers

are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”]

But he said in reply to the one who 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.”