Daily Readings July 31, 2012

USCCB » Bible » « July 30 | August 1 »Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Lectionary: 402

Reading 1 Jer 14:17-22

Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest,

Day and night may I cry

Over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people,

over the great destruction which has overcome my people

over her incurable wound.

A wound which will not heal.

If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword;

If I walk into the farmland, I see those killed in warfare.

If I enter the city,look! those consumed by hunger.

If I go into the city, I see those who starved to death.

Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not.

Even the prophet and the priest, those closest to God, find themselves in strange lands.

Have you cast Judah off completely?

God!  Have you abandoned the Jewish people completely?

Is Zion loathsome to you?

Do you hate the country surrounding Mt. Zion?

Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed?

Why God?  Why have you punished us so severely?

We wait for peace, to no avail;

We await peace, but it does not come.

for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.

We look for healing, but instead, we are terrorized.

We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,

We now have come to realize our sins.

the guilt of our fathers;

And the sins of our fathers.

that we have sinned against you.

We recognize that we have sinned against you.

For your name's sake spurn us not,

But for your own Name, please don't turn away from us.

disgrace not the throne of your glory;

Do not disgrace your own Throne.

remember your covenant with us, and break it not.

For remember that you said you loved us and we were yours.

Among the nations' idols is there any that gives rain?

There is no God like you.  The idols of the nations can't even produce the rain.

Or can the mere heavens send showers?

And the sky is merely a creature which does not send rain.

Is it not you alone, O LORD,

But you send it.  You alone provide the rain and every blessing.

our God, to whom we look?

You to whom we look for our hope.

You alone have done all these things.

You, alone God, have done all these things.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:8, 9, 11 And 13

Response. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.

R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.

R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.

R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

The Psalm asks God not to punish us for our sins and to forgive us.  In return, we will amend our ways and give thanks to Him forever.   In Catholic terms, giving thanks entails attending Mass and participating in Communion.

Gospel Mt 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.

Jesus sent all the people away and went into someone's house.

His disciples approached him and said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."

The Apostles asked Him to explain the parable of the sower.

He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.

He explained, "I, the Son of Man, is He who sows the field.  The field represents the world.  The good seed are the Children of my Kingdom.

The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.

The weeds are the children of the Devil.

The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

The harvest is the end of the world and the harvesters are the angels.

Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Just as a farmer burns up weeds at the harvest, so it will be at the end of the age.

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

I will send my angels to the world and they will find all the evil doers and cast them into the fire.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears ought to hear."


Then, all they who obey me and keep the Commandments will shine like the Sun.


Note again how the Protestant doctrine of the "Rapture" is tossed on its head.  Those who will be "raptured" first will be the sinners.  They will be taken away and cast in the fire.  The Righteous will remain and meet the Lord in the clouds.


Sincerely,


De Maria