Today, July 16
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Readings of the Day
Book of Isaiah 26,7-9.12.16-19.
The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. O LORD, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising. As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in your presence, O LORD. We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind; Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth. But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust. For your dew is a dew of light, and the land of shades gives birth.
Psalms 102(101),13-14ab.15.16-18.19-21.
You, O LORD, abide forever, and your name through all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to pity her. For her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity. The nations shall revere your name, O LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory, when the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the LORD: "The LORD looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die."
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11,28-30.
Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Daily Reflection
Lord, send us the Lamb, for it is the lamb, not the lion, we need (Rv 5,5-6). The lamb that does not grow angry and whose gentleness is never ruffled; the lamb that will give us its wool white as snow to warm what is cold in us and cover what is bare; the lamb that will give us its flesh to eat lest we perish on the way for lack of strength (Jn 6,51; Mt 15,32). Send it full of wisdom for, in its divine prudence, it will overcome the spirit of pride; send it full of might, for it is said that «The Lord is mighty and valiant» (Ps 24[23],8); send it full of gentleness, for «it will descend like dew upon the fleece» (Ps 72[71],6 Vg.); send it like a sacrificial victim, for it is to be sold and sacrificed for our redemption (Mt 26,15; Jn 19,36; Ex 12,46); send it, not to destroy sinners, since it is coming «to call them and not the just» (Mt 9,13); finally, send it «worthy to receive power and honor, worthy to break open the seven seals of the bound scroll» (cf. Rv 4,11; 5,9), namely the inexpressible mystery of the incarnation.