Daily Readings for July 10, 2018

1st READING

The Israelites faces many trials as a consequence of their sins. These trials are not God’s punishment. If we see our di culties as punishment for our sins, then it will be hard for us to receive and understand God’s love for us. This may also lead us to blame Him for our misfortunes.

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

4 Thus says the Lord: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. 5 Cast away your calf, O Samaria! My wrath is kindled against them. How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? 6 The work of an artisan no god at all, destined for the flames — such is the calf of Samaria! 7 When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; the stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; even if it could, strangers would swallow it. 11 When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. 12 Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger’s. 13 Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the Lord is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

P S A L M 

Psalm 115:3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R: The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

3 Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. (R) 5 They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; 6 They have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. (R) 7 They have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not. 8 Their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them. (R) 

GOSPEL

Are you ready to become one of the Lord’s laborers in His harvest? The Church needs more people to go out into the world and preach the Good News. There are many who have never even heard the Gospel proclaimed to them. This is “happening on our watch,” so let us respond to God’s call.  

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me. 

Matthew 9:32-38

32 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Daily Readings for July 9, 2018

1st READING

Hosea presents to us a new way of seeing our relationship with God. He tells us that God loves and pursues us like a lover does to his beloved. For the Jews during that time, this was a revolutionary way of depicting God’s love for His people. Let us remember that we have a God who loves us and desires the best for us.

Hosea 2:16, 17-18, 21-22

16 Thus says the Lord: I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. 17 She shall respond there as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt. 18 On that day, says the Lord, she shall call me “My husband,” and never again “My baal.” 21 I will espouse you to me forever. I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy. 22 I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord.

P S A L M 

Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord is gracious and merciful.

2 Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. (R) 4 Generation after generation praises your works and proclaims your might. 5 They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works. (R) 6 They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds and declare your greatness. 7 They publish the fame of your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice. (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)

GOSPEL

Jesus heals a child and brings her back to life. Healing is one of the signs that God’s Kingdom has come into the world. Jesus heals many people during His ministry. He gains a reputation as a healer and more people bring the sick to Him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Matthew 9:18-26

18 While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. 21 She said to her self, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. 25 When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. 26 And news of this spread throughout all that land.

Daily Readings for July 8, 2018

1st READING 

We miss an opportunity to do God’s will when we fail to listen to the modern-day prophets in the Church. We need to be vigilant and discern the next moment of grace from God. Ezekiel knows his mission is a roller-coaster ride of faith. He clearly hears God’s Word and responds to it; he takes this moment of grace to be an instrument for God’s Kingdom.

Ezekiel 2:2-5

2 As the Lord spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day. 4 Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God! 5 And whether they heed or resist — for they are a rebellious house — they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

P S A L M 

Psalm 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

1 To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven — 2 as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters. (R) As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord, our God, till he has pity on us. (R) 3 Have pity on us, O Lord, have pity on us, for we are more than sated with contempt; 4 our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant, with the contempt of the proud. (R) 

2nd READING

What do you think is Paul’s “thorn in the  flesh”? Paul’s suffering does not lead him to doubt his Christian beliefs but it seems to cause him consternation. As disciples of Jesus, let us persevere through both the good and bad experiences.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this that it might leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak then I am strong. 

GOSPEL

The crowd was amazed by the wisdom of Jesus. What was it about the way He preached that the people responded to enthusiastically? Our Church needs more of Jesus’ brand of preaching to renew and revitalize the faithful. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit empower us to help renew the Church.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Mark 6:1-6

1 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands? 3 Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” 5 So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Daily Readings for July 7, 2018

1st READING

Amos prophesies to the people that a time of judgment and exile is coming. But this time will also be an opportunity to rebuild. God promises to bless the community that has faith in Him and trusts Him. Let us pray that we will be a community of the faithful who live with a common mind and heart.

Amos 9:11-15

11 Thus says the Lord: On that day I will raise up the fallen hut of David; I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may conquer what is left of Edom and all the nations that shall bear my name, say I, the Lord, who will do this. 13 Yes, days are coming, says the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the vintager, him who sows the seed; the juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains, and all the hills shall run with it. 14 I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. 15 I will plant them upon their own ground; never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the Lord, your God.

P S A L M 

Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord—for he proclaims peace to his people. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

GOSPEL 

This teaching of Jesus reminds us that the Gospel calls us to conversion and renewal. It is no longer appropriate to approach our lives with an Old Testament mindset. We need to use wisdom, including spiritual and scientific learning and experience. Jesus is telling us that the Gospel He proclaims is different from the Jewish mindset of old.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

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

Matthew 9:14-17

14 The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. 17 People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Daily Readings for July 6, 2018

1st READING

Amos is one of the earliest proponents of social justice. In today’s reading he describes the corrupt practices of the rich that keep poor people poor, while they maintain their wealth. To become wealthy is not wrong. But if acquiring wealth oppresses others, that is a crime. Let us reflect on how we live and ensure that we do not cause hardship on others.

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12

4 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! 5 “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! 6 We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” 9 On that day, says the Lord God, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. 10 I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end. 11 Yes, days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land: not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord. 12 Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east in search of the word of the Lord, but they shall not nd it.

P S A L M 

Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131

R: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

2 Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. (R) 10 With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands. (R) 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. (R) 30 The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. (R) 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life. (R) 131 I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. (R)

GOSPEL 

Mercy is at the core of the Gospel. Without God’s mercy, we would be judged for our sins, a judgment we cannot escape. Without His mercy, we are powerless to undo the effects of sin. Through the death of Jesus on the cross, our sins are forgiven. The cross of Christ is the gift of mercy of God to us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”