Daily Readings for July 20, 2018

1ST READING

Hezekiah is one of the good kings of Israel. God answers his prayer and adds 15 years to his life. The miracle of the sun going backwards in the sky is a sign that God will do what He promised. More than looking for signs, let us trust in the promises of God. Let us also do our part in His plan. We know that He will give us everything we need to do His will.

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

1 When Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you shall not recover.” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord: 3 “O Lord, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly I conducted myself in your presence, doing what was pleasing to you!” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go, tell Hezekiah: Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David. I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you. In three days you shall go up to the Lord’s temple; I will add fteen years to your life. 6 I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will be a shield to this city.” 7 [21] Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken and applied to the boil, that he might recover. 8 [22] Then Hezekiah asked, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the Lord?” 9 [7] Isaiah answered: “This will be the sign for you from the Lord that he will do what he has promised: 10 [8] See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz go back the ten steps it has advanced.” So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced.

P S A L M 

Isaiah 38:10, 11, 12, 16

R: You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.

12 [10] Once I said, “In the noontime of life I must depart! To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned for the rest of my years.” (R) 13 [11] I said, “I shall see the Lord no more in the land of the living. No longer shall I behold my fellow men among those who dwell in the world.” (R) 14 [12] My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; you have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs the last thread. (R) 18 [16] Those live whom the Lord protects; yours the life of my spirit. You have given me health and life. (R)

GOSPEL  

When Jesus tells us that He desires mercy and not sacrifice, let us believe Him. He reminds us that the way we relate to God and others is the measure of our faith life. If our faith impinges on the way we live and how we relate with others, then it is just a façade, and worse, only a farce.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Matthew 12:1-8

1 Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”