Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 27, 2019
First Reading: Genesis 16.6b-12, 15-16
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Psalm 106
1Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.2Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?3Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.4Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;5That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.6We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.7Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.8Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.9He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.10And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.11And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.12Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.15And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.18And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.19They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.20Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.21They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;22Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.24Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:25But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.26Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:27To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.28They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.29Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.30Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.31And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.32They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:33Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.34They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:35But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.36And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.37Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,38And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.39Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.40Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.41And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.42Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.43Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.44Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:45And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.46He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.47Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.48Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 7.21-29
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of faith and action. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, who, upon becoming pregnant with Abram's child, faces mistreatment and flees. An angel appears to her, promising numerous descendants and instructing her to return to Sarai. Hagar's obedience and trust in God's promise exemplify faith in action. The second reading from Matthew's Gospel features Jesus emphasizing that entering the kingdom of heaven requires more than mere lip service. He teaches that true faith is demonstrated through deeds, using the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust and action. In Genesis, Hagar's trust in God's promise leads her to act faithfully, returning to Sarai despite her hardships. In Matthew, Jesus underscores that faith must be lived out through obedience to God's will, not just proclaimed verbally. The connection between the two lies in the understanding that genuine faith is not passive but active, requiring us to trust in God's promises and act accordingly.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith should not be confined to words but should manifest in our actions. Like Hagar, we must trust in God's providence, even in challenging circumstances, and like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid rock of God's teachings. This ensures that our spiritual foundation can withstand life's storms, guiding us to live out our faith authentically and wholeheartedly.
In conclusion, today's readings teach us that true faith is not about mere profession but about living out God's will. By trusting in His promises and acting faithfully, we build a strong spiritual foundation, reflecting the wisdom of the house built on rock. Let us strive to be doers of the word, ensuring our actions align with our faith, thus embodying the essence of living faith.