Daily Readings for July 4, 2018

1st READING

God rejects sacrifies that are hypocritical or tainted with sin. He looks for a pure heart, not one stained with sin, and especially not the types of sin that continually cause more and more hardship to the poor. Let us look at our lives and ensure that we do not fall into hypocrisy or sin.

Amos 5:14-15, 21-24

14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; then truly will the Lord, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! 15 Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph. 21 I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the Lord, I take no pleasure in your solemnities. 22 Your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me burnt offerings, 24 then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.

P S A L M 

Psalm 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16-17

R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.”(R)8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 10 “For mine are all the animals of the forests, beasts by the thousand on my mountains. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.” (R) 12 “If I were hungry, I should not tell you, for mine are the world and its fullness. 13 Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls, or is the blood of goats my drink?” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R)

GOSPEL 

The demons’ request that they be sent to inhabit a herd of swine affirms that they are unclean. The Jews were forbidden from eating pork as pigs were seen as unclean animals. Let us work against the demons’ attempts to control and infiltrate our lives. This is hard work and we must be vigilant because as soon as we let down our guard, they enter in our lives like a shot.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruit of his creatures. 

Matthew 8:28-34

28 When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. 29 They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. 33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.