Daily Readings for July 31, 2019

1st READING

The brightness of Moses’ face reflects the glory of God. His bright face needs to be covered lest it blind those who see him. This is a spectacular image! The blinding glory of God tells us of His otherness. May it remind us of the humility and depth of God’s love for us in embracing the Incarnation.

Exodus 34:29-35

29 As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord. 30 When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him. 31 Only after Moses called to them did Aaron and all the rulers of the community come back to him. Moses then spoke to them. 32 Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him, and he enjoined on them all that the Lord had told him on Mount Sinai. 33 When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 Whenever Moses entered the presence of the Lord to converse with him, he removed the veil until he came out again. On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel all that had been commanded. 35 Then the children of Israel would see that the skin of Moses’ face was radiant; so he would again put the veil over his face until he went in to converse with the Lord.

PSALM

Psalm 99:5, 6, 7, 9

R: Holy is the Lord our God.

5 Extol the Lord, our God, and worship at his footstool; holy is he! (R) 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and Samuel, among those who called upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. (R) 7 From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them; they heard his decrees and the law he gave them. (R) 9 Extol the Lord, our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for holy is the Lord, our God. (R)

GOSPEL 

St. Ignatius of Loyola discovered a treasure as he read about the lives of the saints while recuperating from an operation. He noticed that the ardor and inspiration he felt faded slowly and lingered longer than what he felt when he read tales of chivalry and romance. He discerned the love of God was more powerful than human love and, thus, more worthy to pursue. Let us all pray that we will be motivated like St. Ignatius in our own faith walk. This set him on a path that governed his choices for the rest of his life. Let us all pray that we can be similarly motivated.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

Matthew 13:44-46

44 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

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