Catholic Doctrine and the Sunday Readings for July 2023

The meaning of the Sunday Mass Readings for July 2023 is made clearest by Catholic Doctrine. Let’s seek the most important meaning of key verses from July’s Readings[1] from doctrines referring to these verses in the Catechism of the Catholic Church so that we can have a better relationship with God. God wants us to know Him so that we can interact with Him as He wants us to interact with Him. The best way to know God and to know how He wants us to interact with Him is through Catholic Doctrine. Doctrines are the Magisterium’s authoritative clarification of Revelation and Faith that must be accepted as objectively true in order to be Catholic.

July 2, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

An important doctrine about Baptism is supported by verses from today’s Second Reading: “we who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death . . . so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4-5). This newness of life has two meanings: “even now . . . the justification of our souls” and “the new life he will impart to our bodies” on the Last Day (CCC 658[2]). For more on justification, which is being in the state of grace or right relationship with God, see CCC 1987-2029.

The Catechism refers to Romans 6:10 (“As to [Christ’s] death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God”) in order to assert a supremely important doctrine about Catholic worship: “In the liturgy of the Church, it is principally his own Paschal mystery that Christ signifies and makes present. . . . all other historical events happen once, and then they pass away, swallowed up in the past. The Paschal mystery of Christ, by contrast, cannot remain only in the past because . . . [it] participates in the divine eternity, and so transcends all times while being made present in them all” (CCC 1085).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to the Twelve Apostles, “Whoever receives you receives me” (Matthew 10:40). The Catechism quotes this verse when presenting the doctrine that “[t]he apostles’ ministry is the continuation of his mission” (CCC 858). In other words, God reveals Himself not only through Sacred Scripture but also through Sacred Tradition, which is what “comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus’ teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit” (CCC 83). Why be Catholic and not Protestant? Because the Catholic Faith includes Sacred Tradition, and Protestant Faith does not.

• From the Responsorial Psalm[3] (Psalms 89: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19): Ps 89 is cited in CCC
• From the Second Reading (Romans 6:3-4, 8-11): Rom 6:3-4 is cited in CCC 1214, 1227, and 1987; Rom 6:4 in CCC 537, 628, 648, 654, 658, 730, 977, and 1697; Rom 6:8-11 in CCC 1987; Rom 6:10 in CCC 1085; and Rom 6:11 in CCC
• From the Alleluia (1 Peter 2:9): 1 Pt 2:9 is cited in CCC 709, 782, 803, 1141, 1268, and 1546.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 10:37-42): Mt 10:37 is cited in CCC 2232; Mt 10:38 in CCC 1506; and Mt 10:40 in CCC

July 9, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Catechism uses verses (Matthew 11:25-27) from today’s Gospel to warn us that “we must humbly cleanse our hearts of certain false images [of God the Father] drawn from this world. . . . To pray to the Father is to enter into his mystery as he is and as the Son has revealed him to us” (CCC 2779). We find the most accurate knowledge of God in Catholic Doctrine. We pray to the real God when our prayer is in harmony with Catholic Doctrine about God.

• From the First Reading (Zechariah 9:9-10): Zec 9:9 is cited in CCC
• From the Responsorial Psalm (Psalms 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14): Ps 145:9 is cited in CCC 295 and 342.
• From the Second Reading (Romans 8:9, 11-13): Rom 8:9 is cited in CCC 693; and Rom 8:11 in CCC 632, 658, 693, 695, 989, and 990.
• From the Alleluia (Matthew 11:25): see below.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30): Mt 11:25-27 is cited in CCC 2603 and 2779; Mt 11:25-26 in CCC 2701; Mt 11:25 in CCC 153, 544, and 2785; Mt 11:27 in CCC 151, 240, 443, and 473; Mt 11:28 in CCC 1658; Mt 11:29-30 in CCC 1615; and Mt 11:29 in CCC

July 16, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Second Reading tells us in Romans 8:19-23 that the material universe and humanity share a “profound common destiny” (CCC 1046) on the Last Day. “The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, so that the world itself [will be] restored to its original state” in the Garden of Eden before Original Sin and share in the glorification of the Risen Christ (CCC 1047). This is what the Nicene Creed means by “the life of the world to come” after Christ “will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” This is what the Apostles’ Creed means by “life everlasting.” Eternity will be both spiritual and physical.

The Catechism refers to verses (Matthew 13:3-9) from today’s Gospel to teach that the “parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word [of God]” (CCC 546). Will we be hard soil or good earth for Catholic Doctrine?

• From the Second Reading (Romans 8:18-23): Rom 8:18-23 is cited in CCC 280; Rom 8:18 in CCC 1721; Rom 8:19-23 in CCC 1046; Rom 8:21 in CCC 400 and 1741; Rom 8:22 in CCC 2630; and Rom 8:23 in CCC
• From the Gospel (Matthew 13:1-23): Mt 13:3-23 is cited in CCC 1724; Mt 13:3-9 in CCC 546; Mt 13:10-17 in CCC 787; Mt 13:10-15 in CCC 546; Mt 13:11 in CCC 546; and Mt 13:22 in CCC

July 23, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

While the Second Reading has only two verses, they are so pregnant with meaning that they are cited by the Catechism seven times. One important point is in answer to why we must ask for things from God, Who is all-loving and all-knowing: “Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom” (CCC 2736). This teaching is within the important section on “the battle of prayer” (CCC 2725-2758), which includes these two helpful quotes (CCC 2737):

Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer. (Evagrius Ponticus)

God wills that our desire should be exercised in prayer, so that we may be able to receive what he is prepared to give. (St. Augustine)

Yes, today’s Gospel (Mt 13:24-30), the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, is about the co-existence of “the children of the Kingdom” (the wheat) and “the children of the evil one” (the weeds) until the end of the world, as Jesus explains in Matthew 13:26-43. However, the Catechism makes the additional point that “[i]n everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time” (CCC 827). While everyone can grow in holiness and friendship with Christ if they so choose, no one will be free of sin before death or the Last Day. Diversity, equity, and inclusion will not save us. Our Lord has given us the Sacrament of Confession and other ways to obtain God’s forgiveness (CCC 1434-1440).

• From the Second Reading (Romans 8:26-27): Rom 8:26 is cited in CCC 741, 2559, 2630, and 2736; and Rom 8:27 in CCC 2543, 2736, and 2766.
• From the Alleluia (Matthew 11:25): Mt 11:25 is cited in CCC 153, 544, and 2785.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 13:24-43): Mt 13:24-30 is cited in CCC 827; Mt 13:41-42 in CCC 1034; Mt 13:41 in CCC 333; and Mt 13:42 in CCC

July 30, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Paul tells us in the Second Reading that “all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). “All things” include even diabolical activity which also works “for good for those who love God,” who “guides human and cosmic history” (CCC 395). It is good to keep in mind, as this same Catechism paragraph teaches, that Satan’s power is “not infinite . . . He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign. Although Satan may act in the world . . ., the action is permitted by divine providence.” Divine providence is explained in CCC 302-314.

The Catechism refers to the verse from today’s Gospel that “every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52) in order to teach that “[a]s she has done for the canon of Sacred Scripture and for the doctrine of the faith, the Church, by the power of the Spirit who guides her into all truth, has gradually recognized this treasure [of the Seven Sacraments]” (CCC 1117). So, focusing on doctrine, the Church has been gradually guided by the Spirit to know doctrine. The Catechism, like the Bible, did not fall down from the sky whole and was intact immediately after the Ascension or on the day of Pentecost. Over the centuries, the Magisterium has elaborated Catholic Doctrine as the Church has grown in her understanding of God and His Will. The bishops in the Magisterium have not elaborated doctrine in isolation from everyone else. Many holy and wise men and women who were not bishops have influenced the Magisterium. St. Athanasius was not a bishop when he was one of the leaders resisting the heresy of Arianism at the Council of Nicaea. Joseph Ratzinger made important contributions to the Second Vatican Council, which ended twelve years before he was made a bishop.

Yes, Catholic Doctrine can develop. But while its expression can change, the substance or content of Catholic Doctrine cannot change. While it can be worded in a better way as the Magisterium’s understanding of God deepens, newer wording that actually contradicts the substance of previously taught Catholic Doctrine is not a development of doctrine but a corruption of doctrine. Catholic Doctrine expresses the reality of who God is; what God wants; and what God has done, is doing, and will do. God does not change, and God does not change what He wants and does; so Catholic Doctrine cannot substantially change. No bishop, including the pope, has the authority to contradict the substance of Catholic Doctrine.

• From the Second Reading (Romans 8:28-30): Rom 8: 28-30 is cited in CCC 1821 and 2012; Rom 8:28 in CCC 313 and 395; and Rom 8:29 in CCC 257, 381, 501, 1161, 1272, and 2790.
• From the Alleluia (Matthew 11:25): Mt 11:25 is cited in CCC 153, 544, and 2785.
• From the Gospel (Matthew 13:44-52): Mt 13:44-45 is cited in CCC 546; Mt 13:50 in CCC 1034; and Mt 13:52 in CCC

[1] There are too many citations, or references, in the Catechism to the verses in a month of Sunday Mass readings to identify all the pertinent doctrines, so I will use my best judgment to select which verses and doctrines to cover in a column which may not exceed 2,000 words. The bullet points allow for further exploration of the Biblical basis of Catholic Doctrine.

[2] CCC abbreviates Catechism of the Catholic Church. Any number after it is the number of a paragraph in the Catechism. For example, “CCC 658” means paragraph 658 of the Catechism.

[3] If a Reading is not listed, then none of its verses is cited by the CCC.