The 5th of July, 2023 is Wednesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar of the Year 2023.
Reading 1: GN 21:5, 8-20A
The first reading from the Book of Genesis.
Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.
Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this servant and her son! For the son of this servant will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”
The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son.
God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your servant. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be named through Isaac.
I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
The water in the container was spent, and she put the child under one of the shrubs.
She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy, and he grew.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 34:6-7, 9-10, 11-12
Response: This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him.
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
R: This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him.
Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
R: This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him.
Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
R: This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him.
Gospel of the Day: MT 8:28-34
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them.
The demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!” They came out and went into the herd of pigs; and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water.
Those who fed them fled and went away into the city and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest.
