Daily Readings July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Lectionary: 399

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jer 3:14-17

Return, rebellious children, says the LORD,
for I am your Master;

God calls Israel back from idolatry and disobedience.

I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,
and bring you to Zion.

I'm not really sure what that means.  Except, perhaps, that many more will be lost than will be redeemed and forgiven of their sins.

I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.

It is the shepherds of the People of God, who have led many astray:

Malachi 2:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
⁷ For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
⁸ But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

Not only they, but also the rich and powerful oppress the poor:

Jeremiah 5:28

King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.


But God will appoint a new shepherd.  Jesus Christ:

John 10:11

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.


And He in turn will appoint His own Shepherd:

John 21:17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

When you multiply and become fruitful in the land,
says the LORD,
They will in those days no longer say,
"The ark of the covenant of the LORD!"
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another.
At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD's throne;
there all nations will be gathered together
to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem,
and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.

This is a reference to the New Covenant in Christ's blood.  Wherein the Old Covenant has been fulfilled and the Old Ark has been lost and forgotten.  The New Ark is now kept in mind.  The New Ark not made by human hands.  The Mother of God, Mary.  The New Jerusalem.  The Church.

Responsorial Psalm Jer 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13

Response. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

The Psalm is a prophecy of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem.  Where it is said:

Revelation 21:3-5

King James Version (KJV)

³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Gospel Mt 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Hear the parable of the sower.

Jesus begins to teach His disciples.  First, Jesus would expound the parable to the multitudes.  But He would not explain it.  He would explain it to His disciples and they would in turn, explain it to the multitudes.

In this way, Jesus assured the crowds would rely upon and turn to the Apostles and Disciples, the foundation of His Church, for instruction in the Faith.

The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart.

The first seed, which was sown on the path, is the person who does not understand the Word of God and then turns to wickedness, because of the temptations of Satan.

The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.

The next seed is sown on the rocks.  Because it is sown on rocks, its roots can't go deep.  They are shallow and so, when any trouble comes along, they are easily washed away.  They can't hold on to the Word of God.  They do not really believe it.

The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.

The next seed is sown in weeds.  That is, amongst evil companions who teach the opposite of what God teaches.  These companions persuade this one to seek the false kingdom of riches and worldly attractions.  And they too, turn away from God.

But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

But the last group, hears the Word of God and believing it, live it.  And living it, preach it.  And multiply and produce fruit unto the glory of God.

Sincerely,

De Maria