Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 16, 2024
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 from the Old and New Testaments that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and repentance. The first reading from Isaiah 7:1-9 sets the stage during a time of political turmoil, as King Ahaz of Judah faces the threat of invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah, guided by God, assures Ahaz not to fear, emphasizing trust in divine providence and ending with the poignant reminder, "If you will not believe, you will not continue." This passage underscores the importance of unwavering faith amidst uncertainty.
The Gospel from Matthew 11:20-24 shifts our focus to Jesus, who rebukes the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their lack of repentance despite witnessing miracles. He contrasts their response with that of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, suggesting these cities would have repented under similar circumstances. This highlights the gravity of responding to God's grace and the consequences of complacency.
Together, these readings remind us of the necessity of spiritual responsiveness. Like Ahaz, we are called to trust God in uncertain times, and like the cities in the Gospel, we must avoid complacency. Let us embrace faith and repentance, ensuring our hearts remain open to God's grace. May we learn to trust and respond faithfully, living out our beliefs in our daily lives.