Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2018

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15

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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

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of legacy, gratitude, and the responsibility that comes with the blessings we receive. The first reading from Sirach encourages us to honor our ancestors who have passed down a legacy of faith and virtue. It reminds us that the good deeds of those who came before us continue to bear fruit, shaping the lives of future generations. This passage invites us to appreciate the wisdom and mercy of those who have gone before us, recognizing that their contributions remain alive in us. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the present moment. Jesus reminds us that we are blessed to see and hear what many prophets and righteous people longed to experience but could not. This is a call to gratitude for the gift of faith and the revelation of God’s truth in our lives. It also challenges us to be mindful of the responsibility that comes with this blessing. Just as our ancestors passed on their legacy, we too are called to live in a way that honors God and shares His love with others. As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can live out the legacy of faith in our own lives. May we cultivate gratitude for the blessings we have received and strive to pass on the wisdom and mercy of God to those around us. Let us not take for granted the gift of faith, but instead, let it transform us and inspire us to live virtuously, leaving behind a legacy that honors God and benefits future generations.