Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 8, 2023
First Reading: Numbers 12.1-13
1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.2And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.3Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.4And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out.5And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.6And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.7Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.8With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.10When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.11And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.12Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb."13And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her--please."
Psalm 51
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on leadership, humility, and the true nature of purity. The first reading from Numbers recounts the story of Miriam and Aaron challenging Moses’ authority, driven by jealousy over his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. God intervenes, affirming Moses’ unique role and punishing Miriam with leprosy for her envy. This story highlights the importance of trusting in God’s chosen leaders and avoiding the pitfalls of envy.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus being questioned by Pharisees about his disciples’ disregard for traditional handwashing before eating. Jesus responds by teaching that true defilement comes not from what enters the mouth, but from what comes out of it. He criticizes the Pharisees for their focus on external rituals over inner purity, emphasizing the blindness of those who lead others without spiritual insight.
Both readings remind us of the need for inner integrity. In Numbers, it is about recognizing and respecting God’s appointed leaders, while in Matthew, it is about the heart’s condition. These lessons apply to our daily lives by urging us to focus on our own actions and words rather than judging others. The moral here is clear: cultivate humility, avoid envy, and ensure our hearts are pure. Let us strive to embody these virtues, trusting in God’s plan and focusing on our inner transformation.