Daily Readings for July 26, 2018

Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary 

1st READING

God commands us to respect our parents and elders. By respecting them, we also respect God who gave our parents authority over us. As we get older, their responsibility towards us lessens as we become responsible for ourselves. However, they remain our parents and we must continue to respect them. Let us listen to their advice and rely on the wisdom they have gained from life experiences.

Sirach 44:1, 10-15 (or Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13)

1 Now will I praise those godly men, our ancestors, each in his own time: 10 These were godly men whose virtues have not been forgotten; 11 their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants. 12 Through God’s covenant with them their family endures, their posterity, for their sake. 13 And for all time their progeny will endure, their glory will never be blotted out; 14 their bodies are peacefully laid away, but their name lives on and on. 15 At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise.

P S A L M 

Psalm 132:11, 13-14, 17-18 (or Psalm 36:6-7, 8-9, 10-11)

R: God will give him the throne of David, his father.

11 The Lord swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.” (R) 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. 14 “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.” (R) 17 “In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine.” (R) 

GOSPEL

It is a privilege to receive the Gospel. Let us be grateful for the grace to receive the gift of salvation. There are still many who have not heard the Gospel. Let us reach out to them with the Good News. Let us do this respectfully and give people the right to accept or reject what we proclaim. May we continue to hone our abilities to share the Gospel with others. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

They yearned for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested upon them.  

Matthew 13:16-17 (or Matthew 13:10-17) 

16 Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”