Readings for the Week Monday: Jer 13:1-11; Dt 32:18-21; Mt 13:31-35

Tuesday: Jer 14:17-22; Ps 79:8, 9, 11, 13; Mt 13:36-43

Wednesday: Jer 15:10, 16-21; Ps 34:2-11; Jn 11:19-27 or Lk 10:38-42

Thursday: Jer 18:1-6; Ps 146:1b-6ab; Mt 13:47-53

Friday: Jer 26:1-9; Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14; Mt 13:54-58

Saturday: Jer 26:11-16, 24; Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 14:1-12

Sunday: Is 55:1-3; Ps 145:8-9, 15-18; Rom 8:35, 37-39; Mt 14:13-21

A Share In God’s Kingdom

Today concludes a three-week series of Gospel texts in which we have listened to a total of seven parables about the Kingdom. The believer is asked to consider the request that God made of Solomon in today’s first reading: “Ask something of me and I will give it to you” (1 Kings 3:5). Today’s parables about the treasure buried in the field and the pearl of great price should prompt us to answer, “A share in your kingdom, O God!” Today we discover that the kingdom of God is beyond value, a priceless treasure. Unfortunately, our culture bombards us with things that it believes are priceless treasures—the bigger and better SUVs, anti-aging and anti-balding creams and salves, miracle diets, and so much more. Having a share in God’s kingdom and helping to bring about that kingdom are the greatest treasures that we can ever hope to gain. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Today’s Readings First Reading — Solomon prays for an understanding heart (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12). Psalm — Lord, I love your commands (Psalm 119). Second Reading — All things work for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28-30). Gospel — The one who knows of the kingdom of heaven brings new and old from the storeroom (Matthew 13:44-52 [44-46]). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Saints and Special Observances

Sunday: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wednesday: St. Martha Thursday: St. Peter Chrysologus Friday: St. Ignatius of Loyola Saturday: St. Alphonsus Liguori; First Saturday

Saint Martha (first century)

July 29 Whether you find Martha Stewart admirable or annoying, she has the perfect patron saint. Luke describes Martha—saint, not Stewart—as “burdened with much serving” (Luke 10:40). About Mary, seated, listening to Jesus, Martha complained, “Do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?” Jesus’ response, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things . . . Mary has chosen the better part” (10:41, 42), suggests to some the superiority of the contemplative life, leaving the rest of us, supporting families, earning livings, (helping others?), as second-class Christians. But Luke introduces Martha and Mary immediately after Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, whom Jesus recommends as a model of practical compassion, concluding, “Go and do likewise” (10:37). Go and do! Sit and listen! Discipleship is never either/or but both/and. Jesus ministered in prayerful silence and hospitable service. Monastic calendars add Martha’s sister, Mary, and brother, Lazarus, calling all three “hosts of the Lord,” recalling their welcome of Jesus to their home in Bethany, reminding us Whom we welcome whenever we extend summertime hospitality! —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Go

Go forth and set the world on fire. —St. Ignatius of Loyola

Wisdom Nine-tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time. —Theodore Roosevelt

A n old expression admonishes, “Be careful what you wish for.” Another one warns about money “burning a hole in your pocket” as you try and

determine all the possibilities about how you will spend it. If God were to grant you a wish, what would it be? Our readings are about making wise choices and following God’s ways. When Solomon is given this opportunity, he does not make a rash or selfish decision but requests an “understanding heart” so that he might better govern the people with justice. The responsorial psalm is part of a long acrostic poem about the beauty of following God’s law. Saint Paul speaks to the Romans about being God’s master plan, in which we each have a special calling and purpose. The Gospel provides several parables about the kingdom of heaven, and how we might take right action and necessary steps in order to obtain it.

The Revelation Of Your Word Sheds Light

Jesus is speaking in parables and offers three different images for the kingdom of heaven. Remember that popular line from a phone commercial: “Can you hear me now?” Jesus is trying to teach and basically says, “Do you understand me now? Do you get it now? Then let me explain it another way.” He is shedding light on just how very important his mission is, that the kingdom of God is the most important thing, and that we must make every choice, every effort to strive for it. To use a sports

Treasures From Our Tradition Most parishes are now aware of the catechumenate and the journey of new faithful in the RCIA, but this form of sacramental initiation disappeared from view in the thirteenth century along with many other ancient practices. Life back then was hard, and often too short, and priests were increasingly insistent about the responsibility of parents to baptize children in danger of death. Since everyone in that society was under unimaginable threat from famine, warfare, and plague, the liturgical rites changed quickly. Everyone was in danger of death all the time. No longer were babies immersed in fonts, being lowered into the water, although the ritual books never backed down from immersion. Infusion was the new way, a simple pouring of a few drops of water on the child’s forehead. The catechumenate collapsed, being reduced to the recitation of the Creed and an Our Father at every baptism. Amazingly, any provision for adult baptism was shelved, so that as late as the 1950s, a person being baptized was presumed to be an infant, unable to answer for him or herself. Questions of creed and commitment were put to the godparents, not to the person being baptized. Even Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton, famous adult converts, remained mute at their baptisms while their sponsors answered for them. In hindsight all this appears strikingly odd, yet it was accepted as the way things were. We have good reason to give thanks for the vigorous reforms of the last fifty years! —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

metaphor, Jesus is telling us we must not look for immediate satisfaction, but we must “play the long game” because in the end, this is the only thing that really matters.

Giving Understanding To The Simple

This message again seems very countercultural. We live in an age of instant gratification. Consumer debt is at an all-time high. Houses get bigger and bigger and more luxurious. Instead of saying “I can’t afford a new car,” people stretch payments out over six or seven years in an attempt to afford the unaffordable. Today we are called to put it all in perspective, to follow the “pearl of great price,” to put all things aside that we might seek the kingdom of God and reach our heavenly goal, our salvation. This may require a paradigm shift and making radical changes in our lifestyle, in how we spend our time, our money, our energy, how we define what is important to us. May each of us find the wisdom of Solomon to guide us in making the right choices. Today’s Readings: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12; Ps 119:57, 72, 76–77, 127–128, 129–130; Rom 8:28–30; Mt 13:44–52 [44–46] Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 26, 2020

All things work for good for those who love God.

—Romans 8:28a

Sunday Readings July 26, 2020 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12 The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered: “O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?” The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:57, 72, 76–77, 127–128, 129–130 R. (97a) Lord, I love your commands. I have said, O LORD, that my part is to keep your words. The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R. Lord, I love your commands. Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. R. Lord, I love your commands. For I love your command more than gold, however fine. For in all your precepts I go forward; every false way I hate. R. Lord, I love your commands. Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. R. Lord, I love your commands.

Reading 2 Rom 8:28–30 Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. Gospel Mt 13:44–52 [44–56] In the shorter form of the reading, the passages in brackets are omitted. Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. [ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” ] Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved

Let us pray for the good of all, knowing that our loving

and wise God will care for our needs.

For wisdom and a discerning heart for Pope Francis, our bishops, and all leaders of the Church,

let us pray to the Lord.

For wise and just leaders in our nation, state, and city as they work to unite our fractured country,

let us pray to the Lord.

For a deeper appreciation of our seas, oceans, and waterways as a valuable source of life, and for more enlightened approaches to the use of these resources,

let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to appreciate and accept the both the new and the old in our community as gifts from God,

let us pray to the Lord.

For plentiful rain to grow the crops that feed our nation and world, let us pray to the Lord.

For all those who are sick, for all who suffer from

COVID-19, and for all who have died, especially N., N., and N., let us pray to the Lord.

For all the prayers that we hold in the silence

of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, let us pray to the Lord.

O God of wisdom, hear these our petitions,

and grant to each of us an understanding heart, that we may know and live your commands

and one day be welcome in your everlasting kingdom with Jesus Christ our Lord

for ever and ever.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

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