The 20th of July, 2021 is Tuesday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the Year 2021 of Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: EX 14:21-15:1
The first reading from the Book of Exodus.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground; and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
In the morning watch, Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.
He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, “Let’s flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians!”
Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.
The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.
But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
Israel saw the great work which Yahweh did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Yahweh; and they believed in Yahweh and in his servant Moses.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea.”
Responsorial Psalm: EX 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17
Response: “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.”
With the blast of your nostrils, the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. My desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword. My hand will destroy them.’
R: “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.”
You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
You stretched out your right hand. The earth swallowed them.
R: “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.”
You will bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, the place, Yahweh, which you have made for yourself to dwell in: the sanctuary, Lord, which your hands have established.
R: “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.”
Gospel of the Day: MT 12:46-50
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.
One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers!
For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr.
