JULY 5 Mon Weekday [Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest; USA: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal]

Gn 28:10-22a/Mt 9:18-26 

6 Tue Weekday [Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr] Gn 32:23-33/Mt 9:32-38 

7 Wed Weekday Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a/Mt 10:1-7 

8 Thu Weekday Gn 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5/Mt 10:7-15

9 Fri Weekday [Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs]

Gn 46:1-7, 28-30/Mt 10:16-23 

10 Sat Weekday [BVM] Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a/Mt 10:24-33 

11 SUN FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Am 7:12-15/Eph 1:3-14 or 1:3-10/Mk 6:7-13 

The Jewish Scriptures this week are about Jacob who, helped by his mother, secures the blessing of his father Isaac and enters into a convenant with God. We have only a few readings in our lectionary from Jacob’s story. I wonder if it’s because so much of it is complicated and unedifying. We should see his story for what it is: God engages humanity, sinful as it is, and mercifully guides it towards the Promised Land. “In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

Friday is the feast of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions,  martyrs from the church in China.