Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 12, 2022
First Reading: Isaiah 7.1-9
1In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it.2When the house of David was told, "Syria is in league with Ephraim," the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.3And the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field.4And say to him, 'Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.5Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying,6"Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,"7thus says the Lord GOD: "'It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin.(Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces so that it will no longer be a people.)9"'And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.'"
Psalm 48
1Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,2beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.3Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.4For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.6Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.7By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.8As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah9We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.10As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.11Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!12Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,13consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation14that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
Gospel: Matthew 11.20-24
20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about faith, trust, and repentance. The first reading from Isaiah describes a moment of crisis for King Ahaz of Judah, as Syria and Israel threaten to attack Jerusalem. Isaiah is sent by God to reassure Ahaz that these enemies will not prevail, urging him to trust in God’s promise of protection. The prophet emphasizes that without faith, Judah will not endure, highlighting the importance of placing one’s hope in God rather than human strength or alliances.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who rebukes the cities that witnessed his miracles but failed to repent. He laments that even the notoriously sinful cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would have responded with greater humility and repentance had they seen the same wonders. Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that God’s grace demands a response; indifference to his gifts leads to greater condemnation. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to trust in God’s providence and to turn away from sin in response to his mercy.
As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in God’s plan for our lives, especially in times of uncertainty? Are we responsive to the graces he showers upon us, or do we take them for granted? The moral lesson is clear: faith and repentance are inseparable. Just as Ahaz needed to trust in God’s promise, and just as the cities needed to repent in response to Jesus’ miracles, we too must cultivate a deep trust in God and a willingness to turn away from sin. May we strive to live lives marked by faith, humility, and a constant conversion of heart.