Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection June 30, 2025

30th June 2025 (Monday)

Psalter: Week 1

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Genesis 18:16-33

The men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Psalm 103:1b-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11 R. (8a)

R/. The Lord is compassionate and gracious

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord.

R/. Alleluia

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

At that time: When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Monday – 13th Week in Ordinary Time

Main Point: The quality of faith is to be measured and tested, not by the abundance of blessings one enjoys, but by the abundance of blessings he brings for others

1. Many may wish to follow Jesus, because truly his life is something different. But not many will be able to follow him, because it is demanding and challenging. Many in Jesus’ time followed him as disciples.

2. But all these cannot be rated as serious-minded. They had varied motives. Some were fascinated by his wondrous powers. Some were excited to be in the company of such a popular figure. Some admired his impressive personality. Some expected some favours and so thought it profitable to follow him. Some sought recognition and a name for themselves, being counted among his associates. Some sought to be comforted by his comforting and assuring words. Some were amazed at his profound preaching. Some marvelled at his authoritative teaching. Some wanted to observe him from close and trap him in the wrong. Of course, some wanted to learn from him. Some were really touched by his life of holiness, and they wanted to walk in God’s ways.

3. But Jesus is very clear about what he wants from his followers. He does not want half-hearted and ulteriorly interested followers. He is not like many other leaders who want to somehow pull numbers and thus display their greatness. Jesus, like them, would not make false promises. He would not hide the hard realities for the sake of appeasing them.

4. That is why, in today’s gospel, to the one who wants to follow him, he declares quite bluntly, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head”. This one affirms, “I will follow you wherever you go”. Quite straight, Jesus retorts, “he has nowhere”. Thereby, he asserts that following him would have no securities or guarantees. It would throw one into precarious, uncertain and insecure situations.

5. To the second one who says, “First let me go and bury my father”, he responds, “Follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead”. This is not demeaning the duties toward the father. Rather, it is a call to set the priorities. Following Jesus and working to make the people live is the top priority, and it is most urgent.

Following Jesus is offering oneself totally for God and for others. Intimacy with the Lord and benevolence toward others are its topmost norms. This is what is seen in the case of Abraham. He pleads with God not to destroy Sodom for its sinfulness. He bargains with God at least six times, appealing to spare Sodom at least for the sake of a few good people. His persistent prayer of intercession on behalf of others shows his intimacy with God and concern for others.

My Practice: Following Jesus should never be with any ulterior motives. The genuineness and depth of it are known by the intensity of intimacy with God and kindness toward others