Daily Readings for July 27, 2016

1ST READING

Jeremiah laments his experience as a prophet — a life of suffering and hardship. We can relate to Jeremiah because he is true to who he is. If he does not like something, he will say so. The challenge of discipleship is that it restricts what we can do due to our various commitments. We can rejoice in or resent our busyness as disciples.

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21

10 Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend yet all curse me. 16 When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 17 I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide! 19 Thus the Lord answered me, “If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand. If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them; 20 and I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass. Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail, for I am with you, to deliver and rescue you,” says the Lord. 21 “I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.”

P S A L M

Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18

R: God is my refuge on the day of distress.

1 [2] Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; from my adversaries defend me. 2 [3] Rescue me from evildoers; from bloodthirsty men save me. (R) 3 [4] For behold, they lie in wait for my life; mighty men come together against me. Not for any offense or sin of mine, O Lord. (R) 9 [10] O my strength! for you I watch; for you, O God, are my stronghold, 10 [11] As for my God, may his mercy go before me; may he show me the fall of my foes. (R) 16 [17] But I will sing of your strength and revel at dawn in your mercy; You have been my stronghold my refuge in the day of distress. (R) 17 [18] O my strength! your praise will I sing; for you, O God, are my stronghold, my merciful God! (R)

GOSPEL

What is your most precious treasure in life? Jesus is our most precious treasure because without Him there is no life. We need Him so that we can embrace the fullness of His calling. Without Him it will be impossible to do whatever He asks us to do, as Mary suggests at the wedding feast of Cana. Let us focus on Jesus and the gift of salvation He offers us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

Matthew 13:44-46

44 Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”