Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 30, 2024
First Reading: Jeremiah 14.17-22
17And you shall speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed tears throughout the night and day, and let them not cease. For the virgin daughter of my people has been crushed by a great affliction, by a very grievous wound.18"If I go out into the fields: behold, those slain by the sword. And if I enter into the city: behold, those weakened by famine. Likewise, the prophet, too, and the priest, have gone into a land that they did not know19Could you have utterly cast out Judah? Or has your soul abhorred Zion? Then why have you struck us, so much so that there is no health for us? We have waited for peace, but there is nothing good, and for the time of healing, and behold, trouble20O Lord, we acknowledge our impieties, the iniquities of our fathers, that we have sinned against you21For the sake of your name, do not give us over into disgrace. And do not dishonor in us the throne of your glory. Remember, do not make void, your covenant with us22Could any of the graven images of the Gentiles send rain? Or are the heavens able to give showers? Have we not hoped in you, the Lord our God? For you have made all these things.
Psalm 79
1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the Gentiles have entered into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple. They have set Jerusalem as a place to tend fruit trees2They have placed the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints for the beasts of the earth3They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one who would bury them4We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and mockery to those who are around us5How long, O Lord? Will you be angry until the end? Will your zeal be kindled like a fire6Pour out your wrath among the Gentiles, who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name7For they have devoured Jacob, and they have desolated his place8Do not remember our iniquities of the past. May your mercies quickly intercept us, for we have become exceedingly poor9Help us, O God, our Savior. And free us, Lord, for the glory of your name. And forgive us our sins for the sake of your name10Let them not say among the Gentiles, "Where is their God?" And may your name become known among the nations before our eyes. For the retribution of your servants’ blood, which has been poured out11may the groans of the shackled enter before you. According to the greatness of your arm, take possession of the sons of those who have been killed12And repay our neighbors sevenfold within their sinews. It is the reproach of the same ones who brought reproach against you, O Lord13But we are your people and the sheep of your pasture: we will give thanks to you in all ages. From generation to generation, we will announce your praise
Gospel: Matthew 13.36-43
36Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. And his disciples drew near to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.37Responding, he said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man38Now the field is the world. And the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. But the weeds are the sons of wickedness39So the enemy who sowed them is the devil. And truly, the harvest is the consummation of the age; while the reapers are the Angels40Therefore, just as weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the consummation of the age41The Son of man shall send out his Angels, and they shall gather from his kingdom all who lead astray and those who work iniquity42And he shall cast them into the furnace of fire, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth43Then the just ones shall shine like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the interplay between suffering, sin, and the ultimate triumph of God's justice. In Jeremiah, we hear a heartfelt lament over the suffering of Judah, a consequence of their sins. The prophet intercedes, acknowledging their wrongdoing and pleading for mercy, trusting in God's covenant. This context is set amidst the turmoil of the Babylonian exile, where the people endure affliction and famine, prompting a cry for healing and peace.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the weeds, which he explains to his disciples. This parable illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment. Jesus assures us that while evil may currently thrive, God's justice will ultimately prevail, separating the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age. This teaching emphasizes trust in God's plan and the importance of remaining faithful amidst life's challenges.
These readings remind us that we live in a world where good and evil coexist. Jeremiah's plea for mercy and Jesus' parable encourage us to examine our lives for sin and to repent. They call us to trust in God's justice, knowing that He will bring about righteousness in His time. As we navigate our daily lives, may we remain vigilant, steadfast in our faith, and hopeful in God's promise of ultimate redemption.