The 30th of July, 2023 is the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2023 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: 1 KGS 3:5, 7-12
The first reading from the Book of Kings.
In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”
“Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
Your servant is among your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude.
Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 119:57 and 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
Response: How I love your law!
Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words.
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
R: How I love your law!
Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.
Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
R: How I love your law!
Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.
R: How I love your law!
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
R: How I love your law!
Reading 2: ROM 8:28-30
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.
For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
Gospel of the Day: MT 13:44-52 or MT 13:44-46
From the gospel verse according to Matthew.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind, which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.
So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”
