Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 30, 2021
First Reading: Genesis 21.5, 8-20
5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.8And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.9But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.10So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac."11And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.12But God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.13And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring."14So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.15When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes.16Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, "Let me not look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.17And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.18Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation."19Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.20And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.
Psalm 34
1I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!4I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.5Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!10The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.12What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.15The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.21Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.22The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Gospel: Matthew 8.28-34
28And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.29And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"30Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.31And the demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs."32And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.33The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of trust, struggle, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham grappling with a difficult decision involving his son Ishmael and Hagar, the mother of the child. Abraham, though deeply distressed, ultimately trusts in God’s plan and releases Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. It is there, in their moment of desperation, that God intervenes, providing water and hope for their survival. This story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God sees and hears us, and His care for us is unwavering.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of struggle. Jesus meets two men possessed by demons, and the demons, recognizing Jesus’ authority, plead with Him to spare them from torment. Jesus, in His mercy, allows the demons to enter a herd of swine, but the people of the region, fearing the power they have just witnessed, ask Jesus to leave. This story highlights the fear and misunderstanding that often accompany encounters with God’s power. Yet, it also shows Jesus’ compassion and His willingness to restore freedom to those bound by evil.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when the path ahead seemed uncertain. Jesus demonstrated His power to free those enslaved by sin and fear. In our own lives, we often face challenges that test our faith—moments when we feel abandoned or when God’s ways seem incomprehensible. These readings remind us that God is always present, even in the wilderness, and that His love and care for us are deeper than we can imagine. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead is unclear, and let us open our hearts to the freedom and healing that only He can provide.