Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2025

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15

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Psalm 132

¹Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured,²how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,³"I will not enter my house or get into my bed,⁴I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,⁵until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob."⁶Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.⁷"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!"⁸Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.⁹Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.¹⁰For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.¹¹The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.¹²If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne."¹³For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place:¹⁴"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.¹⁵I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.¹⁶Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.¹⁷There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.¹⁸His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine."

Gospel: Matthew 13.16-17

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.¹⁷Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of legacy, gratitude, and the responsibility that comes with the gifts we receive. The first reading from Sirach praises the ancestors who lived virtuous lives, leaving behind a legacy of good deeds and a holy inheritance. It emphasizes the enduring impact of their righteousness, which continues through their descendants. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the spiritual realm, where Jesus highlights the blessedness of His disciples who have the privilege of seeing and hearing what many prophets and just people longed for but did not experience. The context of Sirach is rooted in wisdom literature, celebrating the enduring legacy of those who lived justly and passed on their faith. It underscores the importance of remembering and honoring those who have gone before us, whose good works continue to inspire and guide us. In contrast, Matthew's passage is set in the midst of Jesus' ministry, where He emphasizes the unique privilege of His disciples to receive the revelation of the Kingdom of God. This privilege carries with it the responsibility to live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom. These readings remind us to be grateful for the legacy we have inherited, both from our ancestors and from God. We are called to live in a way that honors this legacy, using the gifts we have been given to continue the work of justice, mercy, and faith. Let us strive to live virtuous lives, mindful of the impact our actions will have on future generations. May we be faithful stewards of the blessings we have received, and may our lives reflect the wisdom and love of God.