The 6th of July, 2023 is Thursday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: GN 22:1B-19
The first reading from the Book of Genesis.
God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”
Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him.
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off.
Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together.
Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together.
They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood.
Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.
Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”
He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.”
Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.
All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’_”
So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Response: Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God, now?”
R: Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
R: Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
They have mouths, but they don’t speak. They have eyes, but they don’t see.
They have ears, but they don’t hear. They have noses, but they don’t smell.
R: Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
R: Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Gospel of the Day: MT 9:1-8
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
He entered into a boat and crossed over, and came into his own city.
Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.”
He arose and departed to his house.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Other Celebration
An optional celebration on this day is the Memorial of Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr.