Daily Readings for June 30, 2017

1ST READING

  

Abraham and Sarah worked out a solution to the problem of not having an heir. Abraham fathered a child through Sarah’s maidservant. But God provided the best solution – the miraculous birth of a son by Sarah who was past childbearing age. If only Abraham had trusted in the Lord, then there would be no rivalry between his sons.

Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said: “I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless.” 9 God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.” 15 God further said to Abraham: “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him.” 17 Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “Let but Ishmael live on by your favor!” 19 God replied: “Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I am heeding you: I hereby bless him. I will make him fertile and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve chieftains, and I will make of him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with him, God departed from Abraham.

P S A L M

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R: See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

1 Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways! 2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored. (R) 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; Your children like olive plants around your table. (R) 4 Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. 5 The Lord bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. (R)

GOSPEL

Leprosy was one of the worst medical conditions to be diagnosed with in ancient times (even up to quite recently). There was no cure and it was thought to be a highly contagious disease. As a result, people were often sent to live in leper colonies so they would not infect the general populace, or if they were allowed to come into the town, they would have to ring a bell so that people would keep far away. Of course, Jesus wants to heal the leper and bring him back into the community.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

Matthew 8:1-4

1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” 3 He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”