Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 28, 2022
First Reading: Jeremiah 18.1-6
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying2"Rise up and descend into the house of the potter, and there you will hear my words.3And I descended into the house of the potter, and behold, he was making a work on the wheel4And the vessel, which he was making with his hands out of clay, broke. And turning away, he made another vessel, for it had been pleasing in his eyes to make it5Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying6"Am I not able to do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done, says the Lord? Behold, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel
Psalm 146
1Alleluia. Of Haggai and Zachariah2Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord with my life. I will sing psalms to my God as long as I shall be. Do not trust in the leaders3in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation4His spirit will depart, and he will return to his earth. In that day, all their thoughts will perish5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob: his hope is in the Lord God himself6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all the things that are in them7He preserves the truth forever. He executes judgment for those who suffer injury. He provides food for the hungry. The Lord releases those who are bound8The Lord enlightens the blind. The Lord sets upright those who have been thrown down. The Lord loves the just9The Lord watches over new arrivals. He will support the orphan and the widow. And he will destroy the ways of sinners10The Lord shall reign forever: your God, O Zion, from generation to generation
Gospel: Matthew 13.47-52
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, which gathers together all kinds of fish48When it has been filled, drawing it out and sitting beside the shore, they selected the good into vessels, but the bad they threw away49So shall it be at the consummation of the age. The Angels shall go forth and separate the bad from the midst of the just50And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth51Have you understood all these things?" They say to him, "Yes.52He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe well-taught about the kingdom of heaven, is like a man, the father of a family, who offers from his storehouse both the new and the old.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful metaphors that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our spiritual journey. The first reading from Jeremiah presents the image of a potter shaping clay, symbolizing God's sovereign and loving hand in our lives. Just as the potter molds and reshapes the clay, God works in our lives, guiding us through trials and challenges to form us into the people He desires us to be. This passage reminds us of God's patience and mercy, as He continually offers us opportunities to grow closer to Him.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers another metaphor, this time comparing the kingdom of heaven to a net that gathers all kinds of fish. This parable emphasizes the ultimate separation between good and evil at the end of time. It calls us to examine our lives and discern between what is good and what is not, aligning our choices with God's will. Together, these readings remind us that we are called to be open to God's shaping and to strive for holiness, knowing that our decisions have eternal consequences.
As we reflect on these readings, let us surrender to God's plan, trusting in His wisdom and love. May we allow Him to shape us like clay in His hands, and may we live with integrity, preparing our hearts for the day when we will stand before Him. Let us choose to be among the righteous, living lives that reflect God's love and truth.