Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 11, 2023
First Reading: Genesis 32.22-32
22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.26Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."27And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."28Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."29Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.32Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
Psalm 17
1Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!2From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.5My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.7Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.11They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.13Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,14from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Gospel: Matthew 9.32-38
32As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him.33And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of struggle, transformation, and mission. In the first reading from Genesis, we encounter Jacob, who, on his journey, wrestles with a mysterious figure—often interpreted as God or an angel—through the night. This intense struggle leaves Jacob with a limp but also with a new name, Israel, symbolizing his transformation and strength in his relationship with God. The Gospel reading shifts our focus to Jesus, who, after healing a mute man possessed by a demon, expresses compassion for the crowds and calls his disciples to pray for laborers to serve in the harvest of God’s kingdom. Both readings remind us that our struggles and encounters with God are not without purpose; they shape us and prepare us for the mission we are called to fulfill.
The context of these readings highlights the universal human experience of grappling with challenges and the divine. Jacob, a man with a complex past, is met by God in his vulnerability, and this encounter changes him forever. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus meets the brokenness of the world with healing and compassion, but he also recognizes the vastness of the need and calls for more workers in the vineyard. These stories remind us that our struggles, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, are not isolated events but opportunities for growth and transformation. They also challenge us to respond to God’s call to serve others, just as Jacob, now Israel, is called to lead his people, and Jesus calls his disciples to share in his mission.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to embrace our own struggles as moments of grace. Like Jacob, we may find ourselves wrestling with God, questioning, or seeking a blessing. Like the disciples, we are called to step out in faith and trust in God’s plan, even when the task seems daunting. The moral lesson here is one of perseverance and trust. Just as Jacob did not let go until he received a blessing, we too must hold fast to God, even in our darkest moments. And just as Jesus had compassion on the crowds, we are called to see the needs of those around us and respond with love and service. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I wrestling with God in my life? How am I being called to serve in the harvest? May we, like Jacob, emerge from our struggles transformed and ready to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to us.