Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 20, 2022
First Reading: Jeremiah 1.1, 4-10
1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.4The word of the LORD came to me, saying,5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."6"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Psalm 71
1In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.2Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me.3Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.4Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men.5For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.6From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.7I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.8My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.9Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.10For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.11They say, "God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him."12Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me.13May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.14But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.15My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.16I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.17Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.19Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?20Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.21You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.22I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed.24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.
Gospel: Matthew 13.1-9
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s call and our response to it. In the first reading, Jeremiah, a young and reluctant prophet, is called by God to speak to the nations. Despite his fears and insecurities, God assures him, “Do not say, ‘I am a boy.’ For you shall go to everyone I send you.” This passage reminds us that God’s call often comes when we feel unprepared or unworthy, but His grace is sufficient to overcome our limitations. Jeremiah’s mission is to “root up and pull down, to destroy and scatter, to build and plant,” a powerful reminder that God’s word has the power to transform and renew.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, which challenges us to consider how we receive God’s word. The seed that falls on good soil bears fruit abundantly, while the seed that falls on rocky or thorny ground withers away. This parable is not just about the soil; it is about the disposition of our hearts. Like Jeremiah, we are called to be open and receptive to God’s word, trusting that it will bear fruit in our lives. The parable also reminds us that our response to God’s word determines the depth of its impact in our lives and in the world around us.
These readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to be open to His word. Like Jeremiah, we may feel inadequate or unprepared, but God equips us for the mission He has given us. Like the good soil, we must cultivate humility, openness, and perseverance so that God’s word can take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. Let us ask for the grace to be faithful stewards of the gifts and callings God has entrusted to us, and to trust in His promise to be with us always.