Mass Readings for July 4, 2024

Isaiah 58:6-11
Psalms 107:2-9
Matthew 25:31-46

Isaiah 58:6-11
(6) “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? (7) Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh? (8) Then your light will break out as the morning, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness shall go before you; and Yahweh’s glory will be your rear guard. (9) Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly; (10) and if you pour out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then your light will rise in darkness, and your obscurity will be as the noonday; (11) and Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters don’t fail.

Psalms 107:2-9
(2) Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, (3) And gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. (4) They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in. (5) Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. (6) Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses, (7) he led them also by a straight way, that they might go to a city to live in. (8) Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men! (9) For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.

Matthew 25:31-46
(31) “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. (32) Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; (35) for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. (36) I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ (37) “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? (38) When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? (39) When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ (40) “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (41) Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; (42) for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; (43) I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ (44) “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ (45) “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ (46) These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”