Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 4, 2020
First Reading: Jeremiah 30.1-2, 12-15, 18-22
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:2"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.12"For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous.13There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you.14All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant.15Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you.18"Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.19Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.20Their children shall be as they were of old, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them.21Their prince shall be one of themselves; their ruler shall come out from their midst; I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the LORD.22And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."
Psalm 102
1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!2Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!3For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.4My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.5Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.8All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.9For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,10because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.11My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.13You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.14For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.15Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.16For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;17he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.18Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:19that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,20to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,21that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,22when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.23He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.24"O my God," I say, "take me not away in the midst of my days--you whose years endure throughout all generations!"25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.26They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,27but you are the same, and your years have no end.28The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
Gospel: Matthew 15.1-2, 10-14
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."10And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."12Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.14Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between God’s healing grace and our own need for inner transformation. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a message of both judgment and hope. The prophet speaks of Israel’s deep wounds and incurable fractures, caused by their stubborn sins and refusal to turn back to God. Yet, even in the midst of this suffering, God promises restoration: the tabernacles of Jacob will be rebuilt, the people will be multiplied, and their ruler will come from among them. This is a testament to God’s faithfulness and mercy, even when His people have wandered far from Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and his disciples to rethink what truly matters in living a holy life. The Pharisees are concerned with outward traditions, like washing hands before eating, but Jesus points out that it is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the heart. He emphasizes that true purity comes from within, and that outward observances are meaningless if they do not reflect a transformed heart. This teaching is a call to examine our own lives: are we more focused on appearances and rules, or are we allowing God to work deeply within us, changing our hearts and minds?
These readings are connected by the theme of healing and transformation. Jeremiah’s message of restoration and Jesus’ teaching on inner purity remind us that God is always at work to heal and renew us. However, this healing requires us to acknowledge our brokenness and to turn to Him with humble and open hearts. In our daily lives, we are often tempted to focus on external fixes or superficial changes, but the readings today call us to look deeper. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding onto sin or stubbornness? How can I allow God to heal and transform me from within? By trusting in His mercy and surrendering to His will, we can experience the restoration and renewal that only He can provide.