Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2021
First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15
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Psalm 132
1A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:2How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;3Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;4I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,5Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.6Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.7We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.8Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.9Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.10For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.11The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.12If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.13For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.17There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.18His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
Gospel: Matthew 13.16-17
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of gratitude, legacy, and the call to live virtuously. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded of the importance of honoring our ancestors and the enduring impact of their virtuous lives. The text praises those who have left behind a name worthy of remembrance, not for their power or wealth, but for their mercy, piety, and fidelity to God’s covenants. Their good deeds, it says, continue to bear fruit in their descendants, and their memory lives on as a blessing for future generations. This passage emphasizes the value of living a life that transcends our own time, leaving behind a spiritual inheritance that endures.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the present moment and the unique blessings we have received. Jesus tells his disciples that they are blessed because they see and hear what many prophets and righteous people longed to experience but did not. This is not a boast but a reminder of the grace we have been given to know and follow Christ. The prophets of old looked forward to the day when God’s kingdom would be revealed, and now, in Jesus, that kingdom is present among us. This passage calls us to humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are part of a larger story of God’s salvation.
Together, these readings encourage us to live with a sense of stewardship and responsibility. We are heirs of a rich spiritual legacy, and we are called to honor those who have gone before us by living out our faith with integrity. At the same time, we are blessed to be living in a time when we can see and experience the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. Let us not take this lightly. May we strive to live in such a way that our lives, like those of our ancestors, bear fruit for generations to come. Let us use the gifts we have been given to serve others and to share the Good News with a world in need. In doing so, we honor the past, live fully in the present, and hope for a future filled with God’s grace.