Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 28, 2020
First Reading: Jeremiah 14.17-22
17"Speak this word to them: "'Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for my virgin daughter-my people- has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow.18If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine. Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they know not.'"19Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror.20O LORD, we acknowledge our wickedness and the guilt of our fathers; we have indeed sinned against you.21For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it.22Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.
Psalm 79
1O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.2They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.3They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.4We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.5How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?6Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;7for they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his homeland.8Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.9Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.10Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.11May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.12Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord.13Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Gospel: Matthew 13.36-43
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on suffering, judgment, and the enduring hope of God’s mercy. The first reading from Jeremiah expresses the prophet’s deep sorrow over the affliction of God’s people. Jeremiah laments the suffering of Judah, which he sees as a result of sin, yet he also cries out to God for mercy, acknowledging the people’s failures and pleading for restoration. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, we can turn to God with honesty and trust, confessing our sins and hoping in His faithfulness.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary perspective through Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the weeds. Jesus reveals that the world is a field where both good and evil coexist, sown by God and the devil respectively. The separation of the weeds from the wheat will only occur at the end of time, when God’s justice will be fully revealed. This parable teaches us about patience and discernment in our daily lives. Just as the farmer waits for the proper time to separate the wheat from the weeds, we too must trust in God’s plan and timing, even when evil seems to flourish around us.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and the world around us. Jeremiah’s lament encourages us to acknowledge our sins and turn to God with humility, while Jesus’ parable reminds us to trust in His ultimate triumph over evil. In our daily lives, we are called to persevere in faith, knowing that God’s justice and mercy will prevail. Let us strive to be the “good wheat,” rooted in love and integrity, and trust that God will bring His plan to fruition in His time.