Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 29 July 2021
Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Thursday July 29, 2021
Weekday (17)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mystery
Saint Martha (memorial)
UMUAHIA: Tomorrow is the 1st Anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Revd. Michael K. Ukpong (Auxiliary), 30th July 2020.
FIRST READING
“The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
A reading from the Book of Exodus (Exodus 40:16-21.34-38)
In those days: According to all that the Lord commanded him, so Moses did. And in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars; and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. And he took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above on the ark; and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the Ark of the Covenant; as the Lord had commanded Moses. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would go onward; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
The word of the Lord.
RESPON SORIAL PSALM Psalm 84:2.3.4-5a and 7a.10 (R. 1)
R/. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul is longing and yearning
for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my flesh
cry out to the living God. R.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself
in which she sets her young, at your altars,
O Lord of hosts, my king and my God. R.
R/. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
Blessed are they who dwell in your house,
forever singing your praise.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in you.
They walk with ever-growing strength. R.
One day within your courts
Is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God
I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked. R.
ALLELUIA Acts 16:14b
Alleluia. Open our hearts, O Lord, that we may give heed to the words of your Son. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A Reading from the holy Gospel according from John (John 11:19-27)
At that time: Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The church today keeps the memory of Martha of Bethany, the sister of Mary and Lazarus. She, together with her siblings, was a close friend of Jesus. On one occasion when Jesus visited their home (Lk 10:38-42), Martha complained to Jesus about her sister Mary: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Martha, of course, was a diligent and hardworking host but did not have her priorities right. Jesus reminds her that she was distracted about many things but Mary has chosen the better part that is being in the company of Jesus and listening to him. In today’s gospel scene we find a more mature Martha who places her total trust in the person and the power of Jesus: “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Let us learn from Martha to place our trust in Jesus and his power.
Personal Devotional
‘Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.” Psalm 16:1, 2
– Lord, God of love remember all whose businesses are facing challenges, intervene and grant new life to them.
– Lord, I praise you as my perpetual benefactor and I call upon you as my merciful defender. Grant me total peace and joy.
Let Us Pay
O Lord, I am weak and broken, surrounded on all sides by corruption and perversion. Lord have mercy on me: protect me from my enemies who devour me, and guide me in the way of perfection. No matter what happens to me, whether it be an attack or a seduction, may my love for you protect me from falling into sin. May I live a holy life no matter what others do around me – Amen.