Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 15, 2024
Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time
15th July 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
Table of Contents
First Reading: Isaiah 1:10-17
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocationsI cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Psalm 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 (R. 23bc)
R/. To one whose way is blameless, I will show the salvation of God.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 10:34-11:1
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: An authentic religion does not consist of bundles of religious practices. Religion becomes authentic only when it gives the highest priority to God and lives a life of benevolence and justice
1. In the present times, unfortunately, we see a lot of religious fanaticism and violence. In the name of God and religion, there is a viral culture of hatred, enmity, and destruction. This is not an authentic religion or devotion. Today’s word of God clarifies to us what is a true religion and who is a true follower.
2. True worship of God is not just a multitude of sacrifices or offerings or celebrations of feasts and traditions. All these become vain, burdensome, wearisome, and detestable in God’s sight when they lack a life of integrity and goodness. God will not accept them. Our religious observances become acceptable and meaningful only when there is a genuine change of life.
3. That is why God summons us: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause”.
4. In the words of Jesus in the gospel, this kind of true religion and devotion implies a certain way of life. In the first place, it calls for an uncompromising priority to God. Love for God and loyalty to Him come first, and nothing should come in its way, not even one’s own family. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”.
5. This is being ready to be hated and opposed even by one’s own family for the sake of the Lord. This is taking one’s cross and following Jesus. This is losing one’s life for his sake. And this is exactly bringing sword and not peace, like the Master. Standing for God and for good will certainly throw one into situations of opposition and suffering.
Practice: A true follower of Christ must be prepared to rise above the binding family ties and attachments. He must not be comfort-seeking, trying to shelter himself in false peace and compromises
