Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2019

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15

¹Let us praise the men of glory, and our ancestors in their generation⁸They left behind a name for those who were born of them, so that their praises might be described¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose pious deeds have not failed¹¹Good things continue with their offspring¹²Their descendents are a holy inheritance, and their offspring stand firm in the covenants¹³And because of them, their sons remain even unto eternity. Their offspring and their glory will not be forsaken¹⁴Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives on, from generation to generation¹⁵Let the people declare their wisdom, and let the Church announce their praise

Psalm 132

Psalms

Chapter 132

¹A Canticle in steps. O Lord, remember David and all his meekness²how he swore to the Lord, how he made a vow to the God of Jacob³I shall not enter into the tabernacle of my house, nor climb into the bed where I lie down⁴I shall not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelid⁵and rest to my temples, until I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob⁶Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We discovered it in the fields of the forest⁷We will enter into his tabernacle. We will adore in the place where his feet stood⁸Rise up, O Lord, into your resting place. You and the ark of your sanctification⁹Let your priests be clothed with justice, and let your saints exult¹⁰For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your Christ¹¹The Lord has sworn the truth to David, and he will not disappoint: I will set upon your throne from the fruit of your lineage¹²If your sons will keep my covenant and these, my testimonies, which I will teach to them, then their sons will sit upon your throne even forever¹³For the Lord has chosen Zion. He has chosen it as his dwelling place¹⁴This is my resting place, forever and ever. Here I will dwell, for I have chosen it¹⁵When blessing, I will bless her widow. I will satisfy her poor with bread¹⁶I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will rejoice with great joy¹⁷There, I will produce a horn to David. There, I have prepared a lamp for my Christ¹⁸I will clothe his enemies with confusion. But my sanctification will flourish over him

Gospel: Matthew 13.16-17

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear¹⁷Amen I say to you, certainly, that many of the prophets and the just desired to see what you see, and yet they did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and yet they did not hear it

Sermon

In today's readings, we reflect on the themes of legacy, gratitude, and the responsibility that comes with spiritual blessings. The first reading from Sirach invites us to honor our ancestors and the enduring impact of their virtuous lives, emphasizing the mercy and wisdom they have passed down. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our gaze to the present, where Jesus highlights the unique blessing of witnessing and understanding God's revelation, a privilege that even the prophets of old did not know. The Book of Sirach, part of the wisdom literature, encourages us to remember the righteous deeds of our forebears and the legacy they leave. It reminds us that the good we do resonates through generations, shaping the lives of those who come after us. In Matthew, Jesus underscores the blessedness of His disciples, who have the privilege of seeing and hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is not just a gift but also a call to respond with faith and humility. As we apply these readings to our lives, we are reminded to be grateful for the faith and wisdom handed down to us. Let us strive to live in a way that honors our spiritual heritage, using the blessings we have received to serve others and to bear fruit in our own time. May we, like the ancestors praised in Sirach, leave behind a legacy of love, mercy, and fidelity to God's covenant. In doing so, we fulfill our responsibility to pass on the faith and to be a source of inspiration for future generations.