Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 10, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 28.10-22a
10Meanwhile Jacob, having departed from Beersheba, continued on to Haran11And when he had arrived at a certain place, where he would rest after the setting of the sun, he took some of the stones that lay there, and placing them under his head, he slept in the same place12And he saw in his sleep: a ladder standing upon the earth, with its top touching heaven, also, the Angels of God ascending and descending by it13and the Lord, leaning upon the ladder, saying to him: "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land, in which you sleep, I will give to you and to your offspring14And your offspring will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread abroad to the West, and to the East, and to the North, and to the Meridian. And in you and in your offspring, all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed15And I will be your guardian wherever you will journey, and I will bring you back into this land. Neither will I dismiss you, until I have accomplished all that I have said.16And when Jacob had awakened from sleep, he said, "Truly, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.17And being terrified, he said: "How terrible this place is! This is nothing other than the house of God and the gateway of heaven.18Therefore, Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone which he had placed under his head, and he set it up as monument, pouring oil over it19And he called the name of the city, ‘Bethel,’ which before was called Luz20And then he made a vow, saying: "If God will be with me, and will guard me along the way by which I walk, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear21and if I will return prosperously to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God22and this stone, which I have set up as a monument, will be called ‘the House of God.’ And from all the things that you will give to me, I will offer tithes to you.
Psalm 91
1The Praise of a Canticle, of David. Whoever dwells with the assistance of the Most High will abide in the protection of the God of heaven2He will say to the Lord, "You are my supporter and my refuge." My God, I will hope in him3For he has freed me from the snare of those who go hunting, and from the harsh word4He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and you will hope under his wings5His truth will surround you with a shield. You will not be afraid: before the terror of the night6before the arrow flying in the day, before the troubles that wander in the darkness, nor of invasion and the midday demon7A thousand will fall before your side and ten thousand before your right hand. Yet it will not draw near you8So then, truly, you will consider with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of sinners9For you, O Lord, are my hope. You have set the Most High as your refuge10Disaster will not draw near to you, and the scourge will not approach your tabernacle11For he has given his Angels charge over you, so as to preserve you in all your ways12With their hands, they will carry you, lest you hurt your foot against a stone13You will walk over the asp and the king serpent, and you will trample the lion and the dragon14Because he has hoped in me, I will free him. I will protect him because he has known my name15He will cry out to me, and I will heed him. I am with him in tribulation. I will rescue him, and I will glorify him16I will fill him with length of days. And I will reveal to him my salvation
Gospel: Matthew 9.18-26
18As he was speaking these things to them, behold, a certain ruler approached and adored him, saying: "Lord, my daughter has recently passed away. But come and impose your hand upon her, and she will live.19And Jesus, rising up, followed him, with his disciples20And behold, a woman, who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years, approached from behind and touched the hem of his garment21For she said within herself, "If I will touch even his garment, I shall be saved.22But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said: "Be strengthened in faith, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour23And when Jesus had arrived in the house of the ruler, and he had seen the musicians and the tumultuous crowd24he said, "Depart. For the girl is not dead, but asleep." And they derided him25And when the crowd had been sent away, he entered. And he took her by the hand. And the girl rose up26And the news of this went out to that entire land
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God. The first reading from Genesis describes Jacob's visionary dream, where he sees a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending. This vision occurs at a pivotal moment in Jacob's journey, as he flees from his brother Esau. God appears to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac, promising the land to his descendants and blessings to all nations through him. Jacob, in awe, recognizes the sacredness of the place, naming it Bethel and making a vow to God.
In the Gospel, we find two instances of faith leading to healing. A ruler, desperate for his deceased daughter's life, seeks Jesus. On the way, a woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage touches Jesus' cloak, demonstrating unwavering faith, and is healed. Jesus commends her faith, emphasizing its role in her healing. At the ruler's house, despite mockery, Jesus restores the girl to life, illustrating His divine power and the transformative impact of faith.
These readings remind us of the importance of trusting God amidst life's challenges. Like Jacob, we may face uncertain journeys, but God's promises are ever-present. The woman's faith and the ruler's plea teach us to approach God with trust, recognizing His presence in our lives. May we, like Jacob, acknowledge sacred moments and, like the woman and the ruler, place our faith in God, knowing His blessings and healing are always within reach.