Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 30, 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the interplay between suffering, sin, and the ultimate triumph of God's justice. In Jeremiah, we hear a heartfelt lament over the suffering of Judah, a consequence of their sins. The prophet intercedes, acknowledging their wrongdoing and pleading for mercy, trusting in God's covenant. This context is set amidst the turmoil of the Babylonian exile, where the people endure affliction and famine, prompting a cry for healing and peace.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the weeds, which he explains to his disciples. This parable illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment. Jesus assures us that while evil may currently thrive, God's justice will ultimately prevail, separating the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age. This teaching emphasizes trust in God's plan and the importance of remaining faithful amidst life's challenges.
These readings remind us that we live in a world where good and evil coexist. Jeremiah's plea for mercy and Jesus' parable encourage us to examine our lives for sin and to repent. They call us to trust in God's justice, knowing that He will bring about righteousness in His time. As we navigate our daily lives, may we remain vigilant, steadfast in our faith, and hopeful in God's promise of ultimate redemption.