Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 07-23-15, OM, St. Bridget, Religious

Reading 1 Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b

In the third month after their departure from the land of Egypt,
on its first day, the children of Israel came to the desert of Sinai.
After the journey from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai,
they pitched camp.

While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,
the LORD told Moses,
“I am coming to you in a dense cloud,
so that when the people hear me speaking with you,
they may always have faith in you also.”
When Moses, then, had reported to the LORD the response of the people,
the LORD added, “Go to the people
and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow.
Make them wash their garments and be ready for the third day;
for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai
before the eyes of all the people.”

On the morning of the third day
there were peals of thunder and lightning,
and a heavy cloud over the mountain,
and a very loud trumpet blast,
so that all the people in the camp trembled.
But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God,
and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain.
Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke,
for the LORD came down upon it in fire.
The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace,
and the whole mountain trembled violently.
The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking
and God answering him with thunder.

When the LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai,
he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.

Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Alleluia See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 13:10-17

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”
He said to them in reply,
“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 4

<< Thursday, July 23, 2015 >>

St. Bridget of Sweden

Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20
View Readings

Daniel 3:52-56

Matthew 13:10-17
Similar Reflections

GOD'S BACKING YOU UP

"I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear Me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also." —Exodus 19:9

God manifested Himself in a mighty way to the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:16ff), speaking to them both directly and through Moses, and giving them the Ten Commandments. Yet within a short time, they abandoned Him to worship a golden calf (Ex 32:1ff).

Jesus spoke to the Israelite people of the kingdom of God in parables (Mt 13:10), discourses (Mt 5:1ff), and in signs and wonders. Though Jesus gave them God's Word, they soon abandoned and crucified Him.

Jesus has sent us out to spread the message of His kingdom. The bad news is: if people won't listen to the Father, the Son, and Moses, why will they listen to us? The good news is that God wants them to listen to us, and He backs us up. God backed up Moses by appearing publicly in power in the dense cloud so they might "have faith in" Moses (Ex 19:9). He continues to back up with power all who proclaim His Word (Mk 16:15, 17).

Therefore, don't focus on the reception you get when you spread God's Word. Focus instead on the certain knowledge that God is with you, backing you up. "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silenced, for" God is "with you" (Acts 18:9-10).

Prayer: "The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" (Heb 13:6) Lord, I will spread Your Word in faith.

Promise: "Blest are your eyes because they see and blest are your ears because they hear." —Mt 13:16

Praise: St. Bridget served God as wife, mother, foundress, author, mystic, and saint.

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