Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 1, 2024
First Reading: Jeremiah 18.1-6
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Psalm 146
1Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.3Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.4His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.5Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:6Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:7Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:8The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:9The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.10The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 13.47-52
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful images that invite us to reflect on God’s creative power and our response to His will. The first reading from Jeremiah describes the prophet’s visit to the potter’s house, where he observes the potter shaping clay into a vessel. When the vessel does not turn out as intended, the potter simply starts over, reshaping the clay into something new. This scene serves as a metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel—and with us. Just as the potter works with clay, God shapes and reshapes us, calling us to be open to His purposes, even when the process is difficult or uncertain.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary image: the parable of the net cast into the sea. This net gathers all kinds of fish, good and bad alike, and only when it is full are the fish sorted out. Jesus explains that this will happen at the end of the age, when the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. This parable reminds us that our lives are a time of preparation and discernment. Just as the potter shapes the clay with care, we are called to allow God to shape us into vessels of holiness, living in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Together, these readings invite us to consider our openness to God’s transforming work in our lives. Like the clay in the potter’s hands, we must surrender to His will, trusting that He knows what He is creating in us. At the same time, the parable of the net challenges us to examine how we are living each day, ensuring that our actions and choices align with the call to holiness. May we embrace the process of being shaped by God, and may we strive to live in such a way that, when the time of judgment comes, we will be counted among the good, ready to shine forth in the light of His love.