Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 17, 2025
Thursday – 15th Week in Ordinary Time
17th July 2025 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Exodus 3:13-20
In those days: [Hearing the voice of the Lord out of the midst of the bush,] Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.”
Psalm 105:1 and 5, 8–9, 24–25, 26–27 (R. 8a)
R/. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
At that time: Jesus declared, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Main Point: The identity of our God is not in the list of His immeasurable attributes. It is rather in His relationship with us, soaked in compassion and mercy
1. In the present times, often there is an identity crisis. Many do not know who and what they are. They mistakenly equate their identity with their functions, roles, titles, places, cultures, etc. Or, they glorify their identity with their talents and capacities.
2. That is why, when asked about who they are, the usual answer is, “I am a doctor, engineer, teacher, leader, servant, or I am an Indian, foreigner, etc.” Practically, it may inform about one’s state of life or area of one’s activity. It may also convey the scope of one’s ability and greatness.
3. But, we must bear in mind that identity cannot be reduced to any one of them. They may express one’s identity, help to live one’s identity. But an ability, an activity, is not identity. True identity is essential connectivity to the divinity. It is living one’s human existence in the realm of divine existence. It is sharing in the all-comprising and all-enveloping Presence of God.
4. In the words of Exodus 3. 13-20, it is experiencing and extending the identity of God, which is “I AM”. When Moses asked for the name of God, God answered, “I AM WHO AM”. God’s identity is not qualified by any other attribute. In God, there is no dichotomy between what He is and what He does. God’s “Who He is?” is a blend of what He is and what He does.
5. He is a God of power, love, compassion and mercy. He manifests this nature and identity in His mighty acts and works. He intervenes and rescues them mightily. He loves them tenderly and passionately. He cares for them compassionately. He also forgives their sins mercifully. Thus, God’s identity is not something static but dynamic.
6. Unfortunately, often there is so much contradiction and incongruence between what we are originally and what we do. We move away from our real identity and do actions contrary to this. This results in burdens that weigh us down heavily.
7. Jesus, true to his dynamic identity, invites us in today’s gospel, “Come unto me, all those who are heavily burdened and I will give you rest”. For this, we need to put on the same nature, share the same identity, and that is, “being gentle and humble”.
My Practice: To a world that is so rude, harsh and hard, gentleness will be like a yoke hard to bear. And to a world that rides on pride and arrogance, humility is a burden to carry. But it is only by carrying these noble yoke and burden, we can experience true relief and comfort
