Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 28, 2018
First Reading: Jeremiah 7.1-11
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying2"Stand at the gate to the house of the Lord, and preach this word there, and say: Listen to the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter through these gates to adore the Lord3Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Make your ways and your intentions good, and I will live with you in this place4Do not choose to trust in lying words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord! The temple of the Lord!5For if you direct your ways and your intentions well, if you exercise judgment between a man and his neighbor6if you do not act with deceit toward the new arrival, the orphan, and the widow, and if you do not pour out innocent blood in this place, and if you do not walk after strange gods, which is to your own harm7then I will live with you in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers from the beginning and even forever8Behold, you trust in false words, which will not benefit you9so as to steal, to murder, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to offer libations to Baal, and to go after strange gods, which you do not know10And you arrived and stood before me in this house, where my name is invoked, and you said: ‘We have been freed because we carried out all these abominations.11So then, has this house, where my name has been invoked, become a den of robbers in your eyes? It is I, I am, I have seen, says the Lord
Psalm 84
1Unto the end. For the wine and oil presses. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. How beloved are your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!2My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have exulted in the living God3For even the sparrow has found a home for himself, and the turtle-dove a nest for herself, where she may lay her young: your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God4Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord. They will praise you from age to age5Blessed is the man whose help is from you. In his heart, he is disposed to ascen6from the valley of tears, from the place which he has determined7For even the lawgiver will provide a blessing; they will go from virtue to virtue. The God of gods will be seen in Zion8O Lord, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Pay attention, O God of Jacob9O God, gaze upon our protector, and look upon the face of your Christ10For one day in your courts is better than thousands elsewhere. I have chosen to be lowly in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners11For God loves mercy and truth. The Lord will give grace and glory12He will not withhold good things from those who walk in innocence. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who hopes in you
Gospel: Matthew 13.24-30
24He proposed another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field25But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds amid the wheat, and then went away26And when the plants had grown, and had produced fruit, then the weeds also appeared27So the servants of the Father of the family, approaching, said to him: ‘Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?28And he said to them, ‘A man who is an enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Is it your will that we should go and gather them up?29And he said: ‘No, lest perhaps in gathering the weeds, you might also root out the wheat together with it30Permit both to grow until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers: Gather first the weeds, and bind them into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my storehouse.’
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and actions. The first reading from Jeremiah confronts us with a call to repentance, as God urges the Israelites to turn away from injustice and corruption. Jeremiah stands at the Temple gates, a symbol of God's presence, yet the people have become complacent, believing the Temple's existence alone saves them. God warns them that true faith must be accompanied by just living, caring for the vulnerable, and avoiding false idols. The second reading, from Matthew, presents a parable about a field where both good and bad seeds grow. The master allows them to coexist until harvest, trusting in the eventual separation of wheat and weeds. This parable reminds us that God's timing and judgment are beyond our understanding.
Both readings highlight the theme of judgment and the necessity of living righteously. Jeremiah emphasizes that outward religious practices without inner righteousness are hollow, while Matthew's parable illustrates that good and evil coexist, with God's plan unfolding in His time. This teaches us patience and trust in divine providence, knowing that ultimate justice will prevail.
Applying these lessons to our lives, we are called to examine our actions and ensure they align with our faith. It is not enough to merely attend church; we must live with integrity, compassion, and justice. Let us strive to be the wheat, nurturing our faith and trusting in God's plan. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remain faithful, knowing that God will bring all things to fruition in His time.