“‘… ‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. ….” … “To the upright I will show the Saving Power of God.” … “… cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged …”
MASS READINGS 7.11.16 – FIRST READING: Isaiah 1:10-17 – PSALM 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 – GOSPEL: Matthew 10:34-11:1 – FIND A MASS: MassTimes.org – FIND A MASS: TheCatholicDirectory.com
DAILY TV MASS: Catholic TV – Boston
DAILY TV MASS: Toronto
GOSPEL
Jesus explains to His Apostles that He brings division upon the earth, demanding perseverance in the face of adversity. Christ also requires that we give priority to God over earthly ties.
Jesus said to his Apostles:
‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
* * * and one’s enemies will be those of his household.* * * whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after Me is not worthy of me.
* * * whoever loses his life for My Sake will find it. …’
If we show welcome and charity towards someone sent by Christ, we welcome Christ Himself and His Heavenly Father.
‘Whoever receives you receives Me,
and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward ….’When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PSALM 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
To the upright I will show the Saving Power of God.
FIRST READING
Through the Prophet Isaiah, God exhorts sinners to repent and convert, to turn away from evil and learn to do good.
… Your hands are full of blood!
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Note how it is not enough to stop sinning. We must also seek redress of wrongs, and bring about justice, especially for those who are weak and vulnerable, such as widows and orphans, who can have a lower status in society’s earthly eyes.
Note also that we are not static beings, just focusing on what we now know. We are called to “learn to do good,” to continue ongoing efforts to learn God’s Will and God’s Law, and to patiently develop habits of being good followers of God.
[Scripture passages excerpted or adapted from the NABRE, available online from the USCCB, which provides the following rights statement:
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.]
LINKS & RESOURCES
- FAITHLINK: “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” – Saint Augustine/DailyGospel.org
- VIDEO: Daily Mass – Toronto
- VIDEO: Daily Mass – Boston/Catholic TV
