Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 21, 2018
First Reading: Micah 2.1-5
1Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.2They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.3Therefore thus says the LORD: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.4In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, "We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields."5Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD.
Psalm 10
1Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.3For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.4In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God."5His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.6He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."7His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.8He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;9he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.10The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.11He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.13Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?14But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.16The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.17O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear18to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Gospel: Matthew 12.14-21
14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all16and ordered them not to make him known.17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:18"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;20a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;21and in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages about justice, humility, and the consequences of our actions. The first reading from Micah condemns those who exploit the vulnerable and engage in unjust practices, warning that their actions will lead to their downfall. This passage reflects Micah's call to the people of Israel to repent from their sins and return to a life of integrity and fairness. The second reading from Matthew shows Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah as the gentle servant who brings justice without force or arrogance. Despite the Pharisees' plots against him, Jesus continues his healing ministry, embodying patience and trust in God's plan.
These readings are connected by their focus on justice and the right way to achieve it. Micah emphasizes the consequences of injustice and the importance of living according to God's will, while Matthew presents Jesus as the model of humility and non-violent justice. Together, they remind us that true justice must be rooted in love, compassion, and trust in God. Jesus shows us that even in the face of opposition, we should remain steadfast in doing good and avoiding harmful actions.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on how we treat others and whether our actions align with God's will. We are challenged to stand against injustice, but to do so with humility and love, as Jesus did. Let us strive to live with integrity, treating others fairly and trusting in God's plan. May we be instruments of justice and peace in our world, following the example of Christ, the gentle servant who brought light to the nations.