Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2024

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 are invited to reflect on the legacy of faith and the blessings we have received. The first reading from Sirach praises the ancestors who lived virtuous lives, leaving behind a name and a heritage of faith. Their deeds of mercy and piety did not fade with time, but instead, their descendants inherited a holy legacy rooted in the covenants. This passage reminds us that our actions have consequences that extend beyond our lifetimes, shaping the lives of those who come after us. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the present moment. Jesus tells his disciples that they are blessed because they see and hear what many prophets and righteous people longed to experience but could not. This is both a privilege and a responsibility. Just as the ancestors in Sirach left behind a legacy of faith, we too are called to live in a way that honors the gifts we have received. The prophets of old desired to see the Messiah and understand the mysteries of the kingdom, but that privilege has been given to us. With this blessing comes the call to live lives of gratitude, faith, and service. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us consider how we are using the gifts and blessings we have been given. Are we living in a way that honors the legacy of faith passed down to us? Are we sharing the blessings we have received with others? The moral lesson here is clear: we are not only recipients of God’s grace but also stewards of it. Let us strive to live with mercy, piety, and generosity, so that we too may leave behind a legacy that continues to bear fruit in the lives of others. May we be faithful in our time, just as those who came before us were faithful in theirs.