Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 23, 2017
Psalm 86
1Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.2Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.3Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.4Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.5For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.6Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.11Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.12I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.13For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.14O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.15But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.16O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.17Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
Second Reading: Romans 8.26-27
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Gospel: Matthew 13.24-33
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound insights into the nature of faith, patience, and the mysterious ways of God. The second reading from Romans reminds us that even in our weakness, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, praying on our behalf with sighs too deep for words. This passage reassures us that we are never alone in our struggles, for the Spirit moves in us, aligning our prayers with God’s will. The Gospel from Matthew presents three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the leaven. These parables teach us about patience, trust, and the transformative power of God’s grace. The weeds and wheat remind us to trust in God’s timing and judgment, while the mustard seed and leaven show how even the smallest beginnings can lead to extraordinary growth.
The connection between the readings lies in their emphasis on trust and surrender. The Spirit’s intercession in Romans mirrors the divine patience shown in the parables. Just as the master in the field waits for the harvest, knowing that the weeds will be sorted out in due time, we too are called to trust in God’s plan, even when we cannot fully understand it. The leaven and mustard seed remind us that our small acts of faith, though they may seem insignificant, can have a profound impact when entrusted to God.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace patience and hope. We often face challenges and uncertainties, like the presence of weeds among the wheat, but we are called to trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see it. The Holy Spirit’s intercession assures us that our prayers are heard, even when words fail us. Let us cultivate trust in God’s timing and remember that even the smallest acts of faith can lead to remarkable growth. May we surrender our weaknesses and uncertainties to the Spirit, knowing that God’s grace will bring forth a harvest of holiness and joy in His time.