Daily Mass Readings – Tuesday, 6 July 2027

23 And rising early he took his two wives, and his two handmaids, with his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of Jaboc.

24 And when all things were brought over that belonged to him,

25 He remained alone: and behold a man wrestled with him till morning.

26 And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the sinew of his thigh, and forthwith it shrank.

27 And he said to him: Let me go, for it is break of day. He answered: I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

28 And he said: What is thy name? He answered: Jacob.

29 But he said: Thy name shall not be called Jacob, but Israel: for if thou hast been strong against God, how much more shalt thou prevail against men?

30 Jacob asked him, Tell me by what name art thou called? He answered: Why dost thou ask my name? And he blessed him in the same place.

31 And Jacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I have seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved.

32 And immediately the sun rose upon him, after he was past Phanuel; but he halted on his foot.

33 Therefore the children of Israel, unto this day, eat not the sinew, that shrank in Jacob’s thigh: because he touched the sinew of his thigh and it shrank.

R. (15a) In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

1 Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.

R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

2 Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes behold the things that are equitable.

3 Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me.

R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

6 I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline thy ear unto me, and hear my words.

7ab shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust in thee.

R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

8b Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.

15 But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear.

R. In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

14 I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

32 And when they were gone out, behold they brought him a dumb man, possessed with a devil.

33 And after the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the multitudes wondered, saying, Never was the like seen in Israel.

34 But the Pharisees said, By the prince of devils he casteth out devils.

35 And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease, and every infirmity.

36 And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd.

37 Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few.

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

Jacob remains alone through the night, struggling until he receives a blessing. Wounded and changed, he rises bearing the mark of an encounter with God. His persistence echoes the psalmist’s prayer: “I have cried to you, for you, O God, have heard me.” Faith does not always remove the struggle, but it brings us honestly before the Lord, where we can seek his face and trust his mercy.

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals that mercy is at the heart of God’s work. He frees a man who cannot speak, teaches, proclaims the kingdom, and heals every disease. Seeing the crowds, he is moved with compassion because they are like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord does not look upon human distress with indifference; he responds, and he asks his disciples to pray for more laborers to continue that care. We can bring our own wounds to Christ with Jacob’s persistence, then allow his compassion to shape the way we see others. Prayer may lead us toward a concrete act of patience, service, encouragement, or witness through which the Good Shepherd reaches someone in need.

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, meet us in the struggles we carry and keep us close when faith feels like a night of wrestling. Give us confidence to seek your blessing and to trust that you hear our prayer. Open our eyes to those who are distressed and without guidance. Deliver us from judgment and hardness of heart, and fill us with your compassion. Make us willing laborers in your harvest, ready to serve with humility, speak words of hope, and bring your healing love wherever you send us. May our lives help others recognize your merciful presence. Amen.