Daily Mass Readings for Thursday, 3 August 2023
First Reading: Exodus 40: 16-21, 34-38
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 84: 3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11
Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b
Gospel: Matthew 13: 47-53
Thursday, 3 August 2023
First Reading
Exodus 40: 16-21, 34-38
Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him.
On the first day of the first month of the second year
the Dwelling was erected.
It was Moses who erected the Dwelling.
He placed its pedestals, set up its boards, put in its bars,
and set up its columns.
He spread the tent over the Dwelling
and put the covering on top of the tent,
as the LORD had commanded him.
He took the commandments and put them in the ark;
he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it.
He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil,
thus screening off the ark of the commandments,
as the LORD had commanded him.
Then the cloud covered the meeting tent,
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Moses could not enter the meeting tent,
because the cloud settled down upon it
and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward;
only when it lifted did they go forward.
In the daytime the cloud of the LORD was seen over the Dwelling;
whereas at night, fire was seen in the cloud
by the whole house of Israel
in all the stages of their journey.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines
for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
cry out for the living God.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia
See Acts 16:14b
Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mt 13:47-53
Jesus said to the disciples:
"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."
When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.
Todays Reflection
Riches of Heaven
The Gospel presents two parables, one comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a "treasure" and the other a "pearl of great price." The first parable is about a person discovering the Kingdom of Heaven by accident, while the second parable involves a merchant who finds the pearl of great price after searching for it. We often encounter the treasure of the Gospel without even seeking it, such as when God intervenes in our lives without seeking His intervention. However, we often do not always see these treasures as treasures.
The first parable teaches us that we must be attentive to the countless treasures of God's graces given to us daily. God is prolific in offering us grace, and we often stumble upon His grace. To discover these graces, we must have eyes to perceive His actions and ears to hear His voice. Once we discover these graces, we must foster a strong desire for them, driven by faith and a zeal to conform to it.
To discover the riches of grace, we must first ask ourselves if we have discovered the treasures God has given us. If we hesitate, it is likely that there is much more to discover. As we discover the riches of faith, we must allow it to consume us, leading us to sell all we have to accept all God wants to bestow. Ultimately, we must go forth on this holy search to find the riches of grace of infinite value.
In conclusion, the Gospel emphasizes the importance of being attentive to God's graces and the need to open our eyes and ears to discover the riches of His mercy. May the Kingdom of Heaven become the one and only, all-consuming focus of our lives, and we trust in Jesus for His blessings.
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