July 21st : GospelProphets and holy men longed to hear what you hearA Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Matthew 13:10-17

July 21st :  Gospel

Prophets and holy men longed to hear what you hear

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.Matthew 13:10-17 

The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand,

see and see again, but not perceive.

For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,

their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,

for fear they should see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their heart,

and be converted

and be healed by me.

‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

The Word of the Lord.

July 21st : Responsorial PsalmPsalm 35(36):6-11 In you, Lord, is the source of life.

July 21st : Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 35(36):6-11 

In you, Lord, is the source of life.

Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven;

  your truth to the skies.

Your justice is like God’s mountain,

  your judgements like the deep.

In you, Lord, is the source of life.

O Lord, how precious is your love.

  My God, the sons of men

  find refuge in the shelter of your wings.

They feast on the riches of your house;

  they drink from the stream of your delight.

In you, Lord, is the source of life.

In you is the source of life

  and in your light we see light.

Keep on loving those who know you,

  doing justice for upright hearts.

In you, Lord, is the source of life.

Gospel Acclamation Ps94:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Harden not your hearts today,

but listen to the voice of the Lord.

Alleluia!

July 21st : First ReadingI brought you to a fertile country and you defiled it.A Reading from the Book of Jeremiah 2: 1-3,7-8,12-13

July 21st : First Reading

I brought you to a fertile country and you defiled it.

A Reading from the Book of Jeremiah 2: 1-3,7-8,12-13 

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘“The Lord says this:

I remember the affection of your youth,

the love of your bridal days:

you followed me through the wilderness,

through a land unsown.

Israel was sacred to the Lord,

the first-fruits of his harvest;

anyone who ate of this had to pay for it,

misfortune came to them –

it is the Lord who speaks.”

‘I brought you to a fertile country

to enjoy its produce and good things;

but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land,

and made my heritage detestable.

The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”

Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me.

The shepherds have rebelled against me;

the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal,

following things with no power in them.

‘You heavens, stand aghast at this,

stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled

– it is the Lord who speaks.

Since my people have committed a double crime:

they have abandoned me,

the fountain of living water,

only to dig cisterns for themselves,

leaky cisterns

that hold no water.’

The Word of the Lord.