Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 27, 2020
First Reading: Lamentations 2.2, 10-14, 18-19
2The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.10The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth; the young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.11My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns; my bile is poured out to the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, because infants and babies faint in the streets of the city.12They cry to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine?" as they faint like a wounded man in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom.13What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?14Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.18Their heart cried to the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite!19"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
Psalm 74
1O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?2Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.3Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!4Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs.5They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees.6And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.7They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.8They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.9We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.10How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?11Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!12Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.13You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.15You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams.16Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.17You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.18Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name.19Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.20Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.21Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.22Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!23Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
Gospel: Matthew 8.5-17
5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6"Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."7And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.11I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,12while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.14And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey from the depths of sorrow to the heights of hope, guided by the timeless wisdom of Scripture. The first reading from Lamentations paints a vivid picture of a people in anguish, mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet's lament is a heartfelt cry to God, expressing the pain of a nation and the failure of its leaders. This text reminds us that suffering is an inherent part of the human experience and that even in the darkest moments, we can turn to God with our raw emotions, trusting in His mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew offers a powerful contrast, presenting Jesus as the healer who brings light into darkness. The centurion's remarkable faith stands out, as he humbly recognizes Jesus' authority and trusts in His word for his servant's healing. This encounter illustrates that faith is not about worthiness but about trust and surrender. Jesus' subsequent healings of Peter's mother-in-law and the demon-possessed demonstrate His compassion and the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, emphasizing that Jesus bears our infirmities and diseases.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own experiences of suffering and how we respond to them. Like the centurion, we are called to approach Jesus with humility and faith, trusting in His power to heal and transform. In times of pain, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus not only heals physical ailments but also touches our spirits, offering peace and restoration. Let us embrace the lesson of faith and trust, remembering that even in the midst of lament, Jesus is our hope and healer.