Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 16, 2018
First Reading: Isaiah 1.10-17
10Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!11"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.12"When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?13Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations--I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.15When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.4He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"6The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.9I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."16But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?17For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.18If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.19"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.22"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!23The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
Gospel: Matthew 10.34 – 11.1
34"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.36And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.40"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
1When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter a powerful message about the essence of true faith and discipleship. The first reading from Isaiah 1:10-17 confronts us with a stark reality: outward acts of worship, such as sacrifices and rituals, are meaningless if they are not accompanied by a life of justice and compassion. Isaiah speaks on behalf of God, rejecting the empty rituals of a people whose lives are marked by oppression and injustice. God calls them to true worship, which involves seeking justice, defending the vulnerable, and living with integrity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 10:34–11:1 presents a similar challenge. Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that following Him may require sacrifice and even division. He calls us to love Him above all else and to take up our cross, embracing the challenges of living according to His teachings. Jesus also highlights the importance of small acts of kindness, such as giving a cup of water to those in need, as a reflection of our commitment to Him. This teaching reminds us that faith is not just about grand gestures but also about the everyday choices we make to live out His love.
Both readings remind us that true faith is not about outward appearances or empty rituals but about living a life that reflects God’s heart. Isaiah calls us to move beyond superficial religion to a life of justice and compassion, while Jesus challenges us to embrace the difficult yet transformative path of discipleship. In our daily lives, this means examining how we live out our faith. Are we merely going through the motions, or are we actively seeking to love, serve, and stand up for what is right? Let us remember that true worship and discipleship require us to act with integrity, kindness, and courage, reflecting God’s love in all we do.