Daily Readings for July 29, 2016

Memorial of St. Martha, disciple of the Lord

1ST READING

Martha may have been a people-pleaser. That was probably why she could not help but serve others. Maybe she avoided sitting at the feet of Jesus and the challenge of having to respond to His Word. She could have other reasons for running around doing things and not sitting down to soak in the presence of Jesus in her house.

Jeremiah 26:1-9

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the Lord: 2 “Thus says the Lord:  Stand in the court of the house of the Lord and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. 4 Say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you 5 and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not  obey them, 6 I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city which all the nations of the earth shall refer to when cursing another.” 7 Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. 8 When Jeremiah finished  speaking all that the Lord bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, “You must be put to death! 9 Why do you prophesy in the name of the Lord ‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and ‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?” And all  the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

P S A L M

Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14

R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.

4 [5] Those outnumber the hairs of my head who hate me without cause. Too many for my strength are they who wrongfully are my enemies. Must I restore what I did not steal? (R) 7 [8] Since for your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. 8 [9] I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother’s sons, 9 [10] because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. (R) 13 [14] But I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. (R)

GOSPEL

To become a disciple of Jesus we need to make a conscious decision to enter into a relationship with Him. This is intentional discipleship. If all Catholics did this, then the Church would be transformed into a hive of activity. The power of the Gospel will be unleashed in the life of the Church.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

John 11:19-27 (or Luke 10:38-42)

19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother Lazarus who had died. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, 26 and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”