Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 30, 2019
First Reading: Exodus 33.7-11; 34.4b-9, 28
7Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.8Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.9When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.10And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.11Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
4So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone.5The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.6The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,7keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."8And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.9And he said, "If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance."28So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Psalm 103
1Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,4who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,5who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;12as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.14For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.15As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.17But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,18to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.19The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.20Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!21Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!22Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Gospel: Matthew 13.36-43
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."37He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that illuminate the nature of God's presence and judgment. The first reading from Exodus depicts Moses as a mediator between God and the Israelites, emphasizing God's mercy and the sacred covenant. Moses receives the Ten Commandments, symbolizing God's desire for a relationship with His people. The Tabernacle serves as a tangible symbol of God's presence among them, highlighting His patience and compassion.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds, illustrating the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final harvest. This parable underscores the inevitability of judgment, where the wicked will be separated from the righteous. The connection between the two readings lies in their exploration of God's presence and the ultimate reckoning, reminding us of His mercy and justice.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to discern good from evil in our lives and to strive for virtue. Let us embrace God's mercy, seeking to live in accordance with His will. The moral lesson here is one of trust and mindfulness—trusting in God's mercy while being vigilant in our pursuit of righteousness. May we, like Moses, seek a deeper relationship with God and, like the disciples, remain vigilant for the harvest, striving to be among the just who shine in the kingdom of the Father.