The 26th of July, 2024, Friday is the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar Year 2024.
Reading 1: JER 3:14-17
The first reading from the Book of Jeremiah.
“Return, backsliding children,” says Yahweh, “for I am a husband to you. I will take one of you from a city, and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
It will come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days,” says Yahweh, “they will no longer say, ‘the ark of Yahweh’s covenant!’ It will not come to mind. They won’t remember it. They won’t miss it, nor will another be made.
At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘Yahweh’s Throne;’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Yahweh’s name, to Jerusalem. They will no longer walk after the stubbornness of their evil heart.”
Responsorial Psalm: JER 31:10, 11-12ABCD, 13
Response: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
“Hear Yahweh’s word, you nations, and declare it in the distant islands. Say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’_”
R: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
“For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
They will come and sing in the height of Zion, and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd.”
R: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.”
R: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
Gospel of the Day: MT 13:18-23
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
