Daily Readings for July 23, 2015

1ST READING

The description of God descending before the people is spectacular. Jesus descends before us on the altar in the form of bread and wine, his Body and Blood, every time we celebrate the Eucharist. Let us never forget this wonderful gift. Jesus makes Himself present to us. Is that not enough for you?

Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20

1 In the third month after their departure from the land of Egypt, on its first day, the children of Israel came to the desert of Sinai. 2 After the journey from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai, they pitched camp. 9 While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain, the Lord told to Moses, “I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also.” When Moses, then, had reported to the Lord the response of the people, 10 the Lord added, “Go to the people and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. Make them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.” 16 On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the Lord came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and God answering him with thunder. 20 When the Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.

P S A L M 

Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R: Glory and praise forever!

29 [Dan 3:52] “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; and blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.” (R) 30 [Dan 3:53] “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.” (R) 31 [Dan 3:54] “Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 32 [Dan 3:55] “Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 33 [Dan 3:56] “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.” (R)

GOSPEL

Parables are an important teaching tool. They enable the teacher to distance himself from the audience and give the capacity to speak into the heart of the matter in question. Let us discover the deeper meaning of the parables, and allow it to go deeper into our minds and hearts. This is what is necessary in religion — depth of conversion in the issues that really matter.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Matthew 13:10-17

10 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowds in parables?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. 15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them. 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

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