OT16FR1

Weekday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 13:18-23 "The one who hears the word and understands it; this bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more."

First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

In those days:
God delivered all these commandments:

          "I, the Lord, am your God,
          who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
          in the shape of anything in the sky above
          or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
          you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God,
          inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness
          on the children of those who hate me,
          down to the third and fourth generation;
          but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
          on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
For the Lord will not leave unpunished
          him who takes his name in vain.

"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
          but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
          or your male or female slave, or your beast,
          or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,
          the sea and all that is in them;
          but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

"Honor your father and your mother,
          that you may have a long life in the land
          which the Lord, your God, is giving you.

"You shall not kill.

"You shall not commit adultery.

"You shall not steal.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
          nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
          nor anything else that belongs to him."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true,
all of them just.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R./ Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:18-23

        Jesus said to his disciples, "Now listen to the parable of the sower.
When a person hears the message of the Kingdom but without taking it to himself, the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the footpath.

        The seed that fell on rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. But this fickle and has no roots. No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, than he gives up.

        The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word, but then the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word, and it does not bear fruit.

        As for the seed that fell on good soil it is the one who hears the word and understands it; this bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more."

Liturgy Alive

STS. JOACHIM AND ANNE, Parents of Mary
Memorial
July 26

Introduction

We know nothing more about the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary than that the Protevangelium of James, (an apocryphal infancy gospel from the third century), gives them the names Joachim and Anne. Their feast comes from Oriental rites, in which parents are often honored with their children when these become famous.
In any case, the liturgy reminds us that people are often instrumental in bringing us God's salvation.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
there were many deeply believing
and simple, poor people
waiting for the coming of the Messiah.
We thank your for these believers
and we ask you today
at this celebration of the parents of Mary
that we may be longing for a deeper coming
of your Son Jesus Christ among us
May many more accept him
as their Savior and their Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we are ready to listen and accept
the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
We bring before you
these simple offerings of bread and wine
Let them express that we want
to be open to your secrets with unsophisticated hearts,
For you reveal yourself
to those who listen with their hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
make us attentive to the words
which Jesus has spoken to us at his table
and keep stirring in us the love he has shown us.
Let our faith be more than formulas
that do not change our life in any way.
Make the story of our life speak to those around us
that we have understood how much you care
and that we may respond to you
with all that is in us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.