DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION
JULY 30, 2023
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
FIRST READING
1 KINGS 3:5, 7-12 OR (EPHESIANS 3:8-12)
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 7 "And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people?" 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you."
The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
PSALMS 118(119):57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 OR (PSALMS 119:9-14)
Response: Lord, I love thy commandments.
The LORD is my portion;
I promise to keep thy words.
The law of thy mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Lord, I love thy commandments.
Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me
according to thy promise to thy servant.
Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live;
for thy law is my delight.
R. Lord, I love thy commandments.
Therefore I love thy commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I direct my steps by all thy precepts;
I hate every false way.
R. Lord, I love thy commandments.
Thy testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of thy words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, I love thy commandments.
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SECOND READING
ROMANS 8:28-30
28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The Word of the Lord
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GOSPEL
The surpassing treasure of God's kingdom
MATTHEW 13:44-52 OR (MATTHEW 13:44-46 / LUKE 6:43-45)
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51 Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION
DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
The surpassing gift of love, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is said to be like a merchant who is seeking fine pearls. He finds one really precious pearl, and, having found it, he sells everything he has in order to buy it. In the same way, he who has a clear knowledge of the sweetness of heavenly life gladly leaves behind all the things he loved on earth. Compared with that pearl, everything else fades in value. He forsakes those things that he has and scatters those things that he has gathered. His heart yearns for heavenly things, and nothing on earth pleases him. The allure of earthly things has now dissipated, for only the brilliance of that precious pearl dazzles his mind. Solomon justly says of such love, 'Love is strong as death' (Song of Solomon 8:6), because just as death destroys the body, so ardent desire for eternal life cuts off the love for material things. For love makes insensitive to extraneous earthly desires the person whom it has swept off his feet."
(excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 11.2.1)
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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.