Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2017

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15

This reading is not available in the ESV version. Visit the CPDV version to view the reading.

Psalm 132

¹Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured,²how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,³"I will not enter my house or get into my bed,⁴I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,⁵until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."⁶Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.⁷"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"⁸Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.⁹Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.¹⁰For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.¹¹The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.¹²If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."¹³For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:¹⁴"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.¹⁵I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.¹⁶Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.¹⁷There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.¹⁸His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."

Gospel: Matthew 13.16-17

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.¹⁷Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the gift of faith and the legacy of those who have come before us. In the first reading from Sirach, we hear a beautiful tribute to the ancestors who lived virtuous lives, leaving behind a lasting impact through their good deeds and fidelity to God. Their legacy endures not only in their descendants but also in the covenant they upheld. This passage reminds us that our actions have consequences that ripple through generations, shaping the lives of those who come after us. It calls us to live with integrity, mercy, and faith, so that we too might leave a holy inheritance for others. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the privilege they have to see and hear what many prophets and righteous people longed to experience. This is not a boast but a humble recognition of the grace they have received. It reminds us that faith is a gift, and with this gift comes a responsibility to bear fruit. Just as the good soil in the parable receives the seed and produces an abundant harvest, so too are we called to nurture our faith and allow it to transform our lives and the lives of others. This passage encourages us to cultivate gratitude for the spiritual treasures we have and to use them wisely. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us consider how we are living out our faith. Are we building a legacy of love, compassion, and fidelity, as the ancestors in Sirach did? Are we stewarding the gift of faith entrusted to us, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel? May we strive to live in such a way that our lives honor the heritage of faith we have received and bear fruit that lasts for generations to come. Let us pray for the grace to be faithful and fruitful, that we might glorify God and inspire others to do the same.