Gospel: August 1, 2025
August 1, 2025 (Friday)
17th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)
St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor
Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab
Sing with joy to God our help.
1st Reading: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37
Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58
He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all these things?” And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Reflection:
“Where did he get all these things?”
Saint Alphonsus devotes much attention to the word “fool” in his spiritual writings, warning people of the foolishness of ignoring one’s soul for the passing delights of this world. He compares this foolishness to spending all one’s money on entertainment along the way and living in misery when one finally reaches one’s destination. The journey of life should be conformed to our desired destination, namely the joy of eternal life with God in heaven.
Therefore, we are to live in accordance with God’s wisdom, which will enable us to reach our destination. Foolishness would be to ignore God and the spiritual things of life, to ignore Christ’s command to love, and to turn in on oneself in selfish indifference.
Prayer, especially the communal prayer of the liturgies of the Church, help us to redirect our minds to God and to remember what the Lord has done for us, instead of living in self-centered folly. Just as the Israelites were commanded to remember the Passover which led them out of slavery, so in the Eucharist we celebrate our Passover through Christ from the slavery of sin to the freedom of the children of God. We are to use that freedom wisely.
