DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION
JULY 20, 2023
THURSDAY OF THE FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT APOLLINARIS, BISHOP AND MARTYR)
FIRST READING
EXODUS 3:13-20 OR (EZEKIEL 34:11-16)
13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, `I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, `The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, `The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt; 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, a land flowing with milk and honey."' 18 And they will hearken to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, `The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we pray you, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' 19 I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all the wonders which I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PSALMS 104(105):1, 5, 8-9, 24-25, 26-27 OR (PSALMS 23:1-6)
Response: The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Or
R. Alleluia.
O give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Remember the wonderful works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Or
R. Alleluia.
He is mindful of his covenant for ever,
of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant which he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Or
R. Alleluia.
And the LORD made his people very fruitful,
and made them stronger than their foes.
He turned their hearts to hate his people,
to deal craftily with his servants.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Or
R. Alleluia.
He sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
They wrought his signs among them,
and miracles in the land of Ham.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Or
R. Alleluia.
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GOSPEL
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me"
MATTHEW 11:28-30 OR (JOHN 10:11-16)
28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION
DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
Grace bear us, by an anonymous early author from the Greek church
"'My yoke is easy and my burden light.' ... The prophet says this about the burden of sinners: 'Because my iniquities lie on top of my head, so they have also placed a heavy burden on me' (Psalm 38:4)' ...'Place my yoke upon you, and learn from me that I am gentle and humble of heart.' Oh, what a very pleasing weight that strengthens even more those who carry it! For the weight of earthly masters gradually destroys the strength of their servants, but the weight of Christ rather helps the one who bears it, because we do not bear grace; grace bears us. It is not for us to help grace, but rather grace has been given to aid us.'
(excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY, the Greek fathers)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.