Daily Readings for July 9, 2017

1ST READING

The Jews expected a Messiah who would liberate them from the Romans. They had been under Roman rule for 700 years and were at the losing end of a power struggle with the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Greeks. They wanted freedom from oppression. Zechariah’s prophecy revealed Jesus as a different Messiah from the one the Jews longed for. Is this why they failed to recognize Him when He came?

Zechariah 9:9-10

9 Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. 10 He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

P S A L M

Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R: I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.

1 I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. (R) 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 9 The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R) 10 Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 13 The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (R)

2ND READING

Paul reminded us that there are two principles at work in the world — that of the flesh and that of the Spirit of God. We need to choose with whom we will align our life. If we live in the Spirit, He will lead us to eternal life. However, if we live in the flesh, we will most probably be led astray. We constantly make this choice every moment of each day. Let us pray for the grace to persevere as disciples of Jesus.

Romans 8:9, 11-13

9 Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

GOSPEL

Jesus gives us the yoke of the Holy Spirit. He and the Father have sent us the Holy Spirit to help us live out our calling. As Advocate and guide, the Spirit leads us in the ways of the Gospel and empowers us to become disciples of Jesus. Let us always surrender to His power and receive His grace each day as we follow Jesus.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”