Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 31, 2020
First Reading: Jeremiah 26.1-9
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,2Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:3If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.4And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,5To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.7So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.9Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Psalm 69
1Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.3I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.5O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.6Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.7Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.8I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.9For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.11I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.12They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.14Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.15Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.16Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.17And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.19Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.20Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.21They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.22Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.24Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.25Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.29But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.31This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.32The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.33For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.34Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.35For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Gospel: Matthew 13.54-58
54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the challenges of faith, prophecy, and the human resistance to God’s message. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. Jeremiah warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the temple—once a symbol of God’s presence—will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. The people, however, reject Jeremiah’s words and even threaten his life, revealing their stubborn refusal to listen to God’s call. This passage reminds us that prophets often face opposition when they challenge the status quo and call for conversion.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Despite his wisdom and miracles, the people are scandalized by his humble origins. They cannot reconcile the familiarity of his family with the extraordinary gifts they see in him. Their unbelief leads to their offense, and as a result, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there. This passage underscores the truth that even the Messiah faces rejection, especially in the place where he is best known. It also highlights the importance of humility and openness to God’s surprises, as those who think they already know Jesus may miss the depth of his message.
Both readings remind us that faith requires us to let go of our preconceptions and biases. Jeremiah’s courage in the face of rejection and Jesus’ humble acceptance of his people’s unbelief challenge us to examine our own response to God’s word. How often do we, like the people of Nazareth, allow familiarity or pride to blind us to the truth? How often do we, like the people of Judah, resist the call to repentance? Today’s readings invite us to cultivate humility and openness, trusting that God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or challenging messengers, is always for our salvation. Let us pray for the grace to listen with open hearts and to follow where God leads, even when it is difficult.