Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 29, 2017
First Reading: Exodus 24.3-8
3Therefore, Moses went and explained to the people all the words of the Lord, as well as the judgments. And all the people responded with one voice: "We will do all the words of the Lord, which he has spoken.4Then Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And rising up in the morning, he built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve titles according to the twelve tribes of Israel5And he sent youths from the sons of Israel, and they offered holocausts, and they immolated calves as peace-offerings to the Lord6And so Moses took one half part of the blood, and he put it into bowls. Then the remaining part he poured over the altar7And taking up the book of the covenant, he read it in the hearing of the people, who said: "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do, and we will be obedient.8In truth, taking up the blood, he sprinkled it on the people, and he said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has formed with you concerning all these words.
Psalm 50
1A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth, from the rising of the sun even to its setting2from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty3God will arrive manifestly. Our God also will not keep silence. A fire will flare up in his sight, and a mighty tempest will surround him4He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people5Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices6And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge7Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God8I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight9I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks10For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen11I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me12If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude13Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High15And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me16But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth17Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you18If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers19Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits20Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son21These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I ought to be like you. But I will reprove you, and I will set myself against your face22Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time, he might quickly take you away, and there would be no one to rescue you23The sacrifice of praise will honor me. And in that place is the journey by which I will reveal to him the salvation of God
Gospel: John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42
17And so Jesus went. And he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days18(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.19And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so as to console them over their brother20Therefore, Martha, when she heard that Jesus was arriving, went out to meet him. But Mary was sitting at home21And then Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died22But even now, I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you.23Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again.24Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again, at the resurrection on the last day.25Jesus said to her: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he has died, he shall live26And everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die for eternity. Do you believe this?27She said to him: "Certainly, Lord. I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has come into this world.
38Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home39And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word40Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.41And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things42And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of covenant and promise. The first reading from Exodus describes Moses establishing a covenant with the Israelites, sealed with the sprinkling of blood, symbolizing their commitment to follow God's laws. This ritual binds the people to God, marking the beginning of a sacred relationship. The second reading from John presents Jesus as the source of eternal life, as He comforts Martha and Mary after Lazarus's death. Jesus's declaration, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," offers a new covenant through His own blood, promising eternal life to all who believe.
These passages are deeply connected through the themes of covenant and life. In Exodus, the blood of animals seals the covenant, while in John, Jesus's blood inaugurates a new covenant, offering not just a set of laws but the gift of eternal life. This transition from the old to the new covenant highlights God's enduring promise to His people, evolving from a legal bond to a personal, life-giving relationship through Jesus.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our faith and trust in God's promises. Just as Martha trusted Jesus's power, we too can place our trust in His promise of eternal life. This faith should inspire our actions and decisions, guiding us to live with hope and resilience, knowing that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection and life through Christ. Let us embrace this covenant with gratitude, living each day with the assurance of eternal life that Jesus offers.