Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2019

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 reflect on the themes of legacy, gratitude, and the responsibility that comes with spiritual blessings. The first reading from Sirach invites us to honor our ancestors and the enduring impact of their virtuous lives, emphasizing the mercy and wisdom they have passed down. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our gaze to the present, where Jesus highlights the unique blessing of witnessing and understanding God's revelation, a privilege that even the prophets of old did not know. The Book of Sirach, part of the wisdom literature, encourages us to remember the righteous deeds of our forebears and the legacy they leave. It reminds us that the good we do resonates through generations, shaping the lives of those who come after us. In Matthew, Jesus underscores the blessedness of His disciples, who have the privilege of seeing and hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is not just a gift but also a call to respond with faith and humility. As we apply these readings to our lives, we are reminded to be grateful for the faith and wisdom handed down to us. Let us strive to live in a way that honors our spiritual heritage, using the blessings we have received to serve others and to bear fruit in our own time. May we, like the ancestors praised in Sirach, leave behind a legacy of love, mercy, and fidelity to God's covenant. In doing so, we fulfill our responsibility to pass on the faith and to be a source of inspiration for future generations.