Daily Mass Readings for July 17, 2026: Gospel — Mt 12,1-8

¹ In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’” ² Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly. ⁴ The Lord’s message came to Isaiah, ⁵ “Go and tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will add 1 ⁵ years to your life. ⁶ I will also rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city.”’” 2 1 :¹ This is an oracle about the wilderness by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the wilderness, from a land that is feared. ² I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning.” ³ For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see. ⁴ My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror. ⁵ Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! ⁶ For this is what the Lord has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees. ⁷ When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.” ⁸ Then the guard cries out: “On the watchtower, O Lord, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night. ⁹ Look what’s coming! A charioteer, a team of horses.” When questioned, he replies, “Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!” 1 ⁰ O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you. 1 ¹ This is an oracle about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” 1 ² The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.” 1 ³ This is an oracle about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. 1 ⁴ Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives. 1 ⁵ For they flee from the swords— from the drawn sword, and from the battle-ready bow, and from the severity of the battle. 1 ⁶ For this is what the Lord has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. 1 ⁷ Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, the Lord God of Israel has spoken. 2 2 :¹ This is an oracle about the Valley of Vision: What is the reason that all of you go up to the rooftops? ² The noisy city is full of raucous sounds; the town is filled with revelry. Your slain were not cut down by the sword; they did not die in battle. ³ All your leaders ran away together— they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together— they were captured without a single arrow being shot. ⁴ So I say: “Don’t look at me! I am weeping bitterly. Don’t try to console me concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.” ⁵ For the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies has planned a day of panic, defeat, and confusion. In the Valley of Vision people shout and cry out to the hill. ⁶ The Elamites picked up the quiver and came with chariots and horsemen; the men of Kir prepared the shield. ⁷ Your very best valleys were full of chariots; horsemen confidently took their positions at the gate. ⁸ They removed the defenses of Judah. At that time you looked for the weapons in the House of the Forest. ⁹ You saw the many breaks in the walls of the City of David; you stored up water in the lower pool. 1 ⁰ You counted the houses in Jerusalem and demolished houses so you could have material to reinforce the wall. 1 ¹ You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool— but you did not trust in the one who made it; you did not depend on the one who formed it long ago. 1 ² At that time the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth. 1 ³ But look, there is outright celebration! You say, “Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 1 ⁴ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies told me this: “Certainly this sin will not be forgiven as long as you live,” says the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 1 ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “Go visit this administrator, Shebna, who supervises the palace, and tell him: 1 ⁶ ‘What right do you have to be here? What relatives do you have buried here? Why do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here? He chisels out his burial site in an elevated place, he carves out his tomb on a cliff. 1 ⁷ Look, the Lord will throw you far away, you mere man! He will wrap you up tightly. 1 ⁸ He will wind you up tightly into a ball and throw you into a wide, open land. There you will die, and there with you will be your impressive chariots, which bring disgrace to the house of your master. 1 ⁹ I will remove you from your office; you will be thrown down from your position. 2 0 “‘At that time I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. 2 ¹ I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. He will become a protector of the residents of Jerusalem and of the people of Judah. 2 ² I will place the key to the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens the door, no one can close it; when he closes the door, no one can open it. 2 ³ I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family. 2 ⁴ His father’s family will gain increasing prominence because of him, including the offspring and the offshoots. All the small containers, including the bowls and all the jars, will hang from this peg.’ 2 ⁵ “At that time,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “the peg fastened into a solid place will come loose. It will be cut off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off.” Indeed, the Lord has spoken. 7 :¹ During the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it. ² It was reported to the family of David, “Syria has allied with Ephraim.” They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. ³ So the Lord told Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear Jashub and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool that is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth. ⁴ Tell him, ‘Make sure you stay calm! Don’t be afraid. Don’t be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah. ⁵ Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise. ⁶ They say, “Let’s attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. Then we’ll set up the son of Tabeel as its king.” ⁷ For this reason the Sovereign Lord says: “‘It will not take place; it will not happen. ⁸ For Syria’s leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within 6 ⁵ years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation. ⁹ Ephraim’s leader is Samaria, and Samaria’s leader is the son of Remaliah. If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure.’” 1 ⁰ The Lord again spoke to Ahaz: 1 ¹ “Ask for a confirming sign from the Lord your God. You can even ask for something miraculous.” 1 ² But Ahaz responded, “I don’t want to ask; I don’t want to put the Lord to a test.” 1 ³ So Isaiah replied, “Pay attention, family of David. Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God? 1 ⁴ For this reason the Lord himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel. 1 ⁵ He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right. 1 ⁶ Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate. 1 ⁷ The Lord will bring on you, your people, and your father’s family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!” 1 ⁸ At that time the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 1 ⁹ All of them will come and make their home in the ravines between the cliffs and in the crevices of the cliffs, in all the thornbushes, and in all the watering holes. 2 ⁰ At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the hair off the head and private parts; it will also shave off the beard. 2 ¹ At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats. 2 ² From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey. 2 ³ At that time every place where there had been 1 ,000 vines worth 1 ,000 silver shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers. 2 ⁴ With bow and arrow people will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers. 2 ⁵ They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there, and sheep will trample on them. 8 :¹ The Lord told me, “Take a large tablet and inscribe these words on it with an ordinary stylus: ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’ ² Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.” ³ I then approached the prophetess for marital relations; she conceived and gave birth to a son. The Lord told me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz, ⁴ for before the child knows how to cry out ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” ⁵ The Lord spoke to me again: ⁶ “These people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and melt in fear over Rezin and the son of Remaliah. ⁷ So look, the Lord is bringing up against them the turbulent and mighty waters of the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria and all his majestic power. It will reach flood stage and overflow its banks. ⁸ It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.” ⁹ You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth. Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! 1 ⁰ Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted. Issue your orders, but they will not be executed! For God is with us! 1 ¹ Indeed this is what the Lord told me quite forcefully. He warned me not to act like these people: 1 ² “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified. 1 ³ You must recognize the authority of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear. 1 ⁴ He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip and a rock that makes one stumble— to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem. 1 ⁵ Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.” 1 ⁶ Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions, and give it to my followers. 1 ⁷ I will wait patiently for the Lord, who has rejected the family of Jacob; I will wait for him. 1 ⁸ Look, I and the sons whom the Lord has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who lives on Mount Zion. 1 ⁹ They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?” 2 ⁰ Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened. 2 ¹ They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward. 2 ² When one looks out over the land, he sees distress and darkness, gloom and anxiety, darkness and people forced from the land.