Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 19, 2020
First Reading: Wisdom 12.13, 16-19
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Psalm 86
1Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.2Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.3Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.4Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.6Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.7In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.9All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.10For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.12I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.13For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.14The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life- men without regard for you.15But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.16Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant.17Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
Second Reading: Romans 8.26-27
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
Gospel: Matthew 13.24-33
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'28"'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'29"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of justice, mercy, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom highlights God's justice and leniency, emphasizing His care for all and the balance between power and mercy. The second reading from Romans illustrates the Holy Spirit's role in aiding our weaknesses, particularly in prayer, aligning our desires with God's will. The Gospel presents three parables: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the leaven, each illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven's growth and the coexistence of good and evil until the harvest.
These readings interconnect by first establishing God's justice and mercy, then showing how the Holy Spirit assists us in living justly, and finally, through parables, demonstrating the Kingdom's patient growth. The Book of Wisdom sets the stage with God's providence, Romans connects with the Spirit's guidance, and the Gospel provides practical examples of growth and transformation.
Applying these teachings to daily life, we are reminded to trust in God's plan and patience. Despite life's challenges, we should allow the Spirit to guide us, living with hope and patience. The moral lesson encourages us to embrace God's justice and mercy, trust in the Spirit's guidance, and cultivate patience as we await God's ultimate triumph. Let us live with faith, knowing the Kingdom grows within us, transforming our lives and the world around us.