Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 26, 2019

First Reading: Sirach 44.1, 8, 10-15

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Psalm 132

¹O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured.²He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:³"I will not enter my house or go to my bed-⁴I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids,⁵till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."⁶We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:⁷"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool-⁸arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.⁹May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy."¹⁰For the sake of David your servant, do not reject your anointed one.¹¹The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne-¹²if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."¹³For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling:¹⁴"This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-¹⁵I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food.¹⁶I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.¹⁷"Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.¹⁸I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

Gospel: Matthew 13.16-17

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.¹⁷For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Sermon

In today's readings, we reflect on the themes of legacy, gratitude, and the responsibility that comes with spiritual blessings. The first reading from Sirach invites us to honor our ancestors and the enduring impact of their virtuous lives, emphasizing the mercy and wisdom they have passed down. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our gaze to the present, where Jesus highlights the unique blessing of witnessing and understanding God's revelation, a privilege that even the prophets of old did not know. The Book of Sirach, part of the wisdom literature, encourages us to remember the righteous deeds of our forebears and the legacy they leave. It reminds us that the good we do resonates through generations, shaping the lives of those who come after us. In Matthew, Jesus underscores the blessedness of His disciples, who have the privilege of seeing and hearing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is not just a gift but also a call to respond with faith and humility. As we apply these readings to our lives, we are reminded to be grateful for the faith and wisdom handed down to us. Let us strive to live in a way that honors our spiritual heritage, using the blessings we have received to serve others and to bear fruit in our own time. May we, like the ancestors praised in Sirach, leave behind a legacy of love, mercy, and fidelity to God's covenant. In doing so, we fulfill our responsibility to pass on the faith and to be a source of inspiration for future generations.