Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 12, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 55.10-11
10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Psalm 65
1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.2O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Second Reading: Romans 8.18-23
18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Gospel: Matthew 13.1-9
1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the hope of eternal life amidst the struggles of this world. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear that just as rain and snow bring life to the earth, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose in those who receive it. This passage, written to the Israelites in exile, offers a message of hope and renewal, reminding us that God’s word is not empty but fruitful, bringing life and nourishment to those who hear it.
The second reading from Romans deepens this theme by speaking of the suffering of the present time in light of the future glory that awaits us. Paul reminds us that creation itself groans in anticipation of redemption, and we, as children of God, also groan inwardly as we await the fullness of our adoption. This passage encourages us to endure trials with patience, knowing that the glory to come far outweighs the struggles of the present.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, where seed falls on different types of soil, representing the various ways people respond to God’s word. Some hearts are hardened, others are shallow, and still, others are consumed by the cares of the world. But when the word falls on good soil, it bears abundant fruit. This parable challenges us to examine the condition of our own hearts and to nurture our relationship with God, so that His word may take root and flourish in us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we receive God’s word in our lives? Do we allow it to take root and transform us, or do we let the challenges of the world harden our hearts? May we trust in God’s promise that His word will not return empty, and may we endure the trials of this life with hope, knowing that the glory of eternal life awaits us. Let us strive to be the good soil, fertile and receptive, so that we may bear fruit in abundance for the Lord.