Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Tuesday July 6, 2027
Daily Mass Readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1
- First Reading – Genesis 32:23-33: Jacob wrestles a mysterious man all night, who renames him Israel, marking his struggles with both divine and human beings. Having seen God, Jacob limps away at sunrise.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 17: Hear my just plea, Lord. Though tested by fire, no malice is found in me. Answer my call, show your mercy, and hide me in your shadow. In justice, I’ll see your face and wake content in your presence.
- Gospel – Matthew 9:32-38: Jesus healed a mute man, amazing the crowds but angering the Pharisees. He traveled, teaching and healing, feeling compassion for the troubled people. He told his disciples to pray for more workers to gather the plentiful harvest.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
Themes for the Readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1
On Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we hear about Jacob wrestling with a mysterious man and Jesus healing a mute man. These stories show God’s interaction with people and His care for those in need.
- Wrestling with Struggles: Jacob’s wrestling shows that life includes struggles. It reminds us that God is with us in our hardships.
- New Beginnings: Jacob is renamed Israel, symbolizing a new start. This teaches us that God can give us new identities and purposes.
- God’s Healing Power: Jesus heals the mute man, showing His power to heal. This teaches us to trust in God’s ability to heal our bodies and spirits.
- Opposition from Others: The Pharisees oppose Jesus’ good works. This reminds us that doing good can sometimes bring criticism.
- Jesus’ Compassion: Jesus feels compassion for the troubled people. This shows that God cares deeply about our sufferings.
- Praying for Helpers: Jesus asks for more workers for the harvest. This reminds us to pray for more people to help spread God’s word.
The readings on Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 show God’s presence in our struggles and His care for us. We are encouraged to trust in His healing, pray for helpers, and remember His compassion.
Reflection for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1
The readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 offer us rich lessons about our relationship with God. They teach us about struggles, healing, and compassion.
Wrestling with Struggles
Jacob wrestles with a mysterious man all night. This shows us that life is full of struggles. These struggles can be both physical and spiritual.
God does not abandon us in our struggles. He is with us, even when we feel alone. Jacob’s story reminds us to keep faith and keep wrestling.
Jacob receives a new name, Israel, after his struggle. This new name marks a new beginning for him. God can turn our struggles into new opportunities.
Healing Power of Jesus
Jesus heals a mute man in the Gospel reading. This miracle shows Jesus’ power to heal. It also shows His care for those who suffer.
The crowds are amazed by the healing. But the Pharisees are angry. This reminds us that not everyone will support good works.
Jesus continues to teach and heal. His actions show God’s love and care for us. We are called to trust in His healing power.
Compassion and Prayer
Jesus feels compassion for the troubled people. He sees them as sheep without a shepherd. This shows His deep care for us.
Jesus asks His disciples to pray for more workers. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. We are reminded to pray for more people to help spread God’s word.
Jesus’ compassion and prayer are examples for us. We should also feel compassion for others. We should also pray for more helpers in God’s work.
The readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 teach us about struggles, healing, and compassion. They remind us that God is with us in our struggles. They also show us the importance of healing and praying for more workers.
Prayer
Lord, help us in our struggles. Heal our bodies and spirits. Give us compassion for others. Send more workers to spread Your word. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How can you remain faithful and trust God during times of struggle?
- In what ways can you share Jesus’ healing and compassion with others in your life?
- How do you respond when you see good works being criticized or misunderstood?
- What steps can you take to pray for and support those who work to spread God’s word?
Homilies and Commentaries for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1
At Once, Sheep and Shepherd
On Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Fr. Jerry Stookey reflects on how Jesus was moved with pity for the crowds, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd. He explains that Jesus understood sheep deeply, and often used that image to describe His care for people. We are called to be both sheep who follow Jesus and shepherds who help care for others. Sheep may seem timid, but they also show trust, gentleness, and loyalty—qualities every disciple needs.
Fr. Jerry says that if we’ve been cared for by the Good Shepherd, we know how to care for others. Many people today feel lost and abandoned, just like in Jesus’ time. Some are ignored by leaders, others feel unwanted or unheard. As followers of Jesus, we are sent to be with them, listen to them, and love them. That’s how we live out being both sheep and shepherds.
Ministry in Every Moment
The Gospel says the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. Deacon Miller reminds us that we are all called to help, not just in big ways, but in small ones too. Ministry is not limited to Sunday mornings or service projects. It’s in every moment—picking up trash, offering a kind word, helping a stranger. We are always being sent out to care for others, just like those who were sent in Scripture.
Deacon Arthur Miller shares that we can’t walk by people who might be Jesus in disguise. He mentions the tragedy in South Texas as a moment that calls for compassion and action. Our ministry must be filled with love, without hate or judgment, even toward those we don’t understand. We are God’s workers in the field, and our mission happens every day, in every place. This reflection is for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1.
Cast Out Criticism
In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jesus heals a man who was mute by casting out a demon. The crowd is amazed, but the Pharisees respond with harsh criticism, saying He works through evil powers. Still, Jesus stays focused. He travels from town to town, teaching, healing, and caring for the people, who are like sheep without a shepherd. He tells His disciples to pray for more workers because the harvest is ready.
Matthew Kelly points out how easy it is to miss God’s work in our lives if we’re not paying attention. He reminds us to marvel at what God is doing. He also highlights how Jesus doesn’t let criticism stop Him. Even when the Pharisees attack Him, Jesus keeps going. Kelly encourages us to do the same—stay on mission, keep doing good, and ask ourselves if we are doing our part to bring in the harvest.
Conversion and Mission
In this reflection for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Bishop Robert Barron highlights the interconnectedness of conversion and mission in the Christian life. When we encounter the beauty of divine revelation, it should lead to a change in our lives and a commitment to become missionaries.
The beauty of God’s revelation compels us to share it with others, as it ignites a desire within us to speak of what we have seen.
The Healing Presence of Faith
This USCCB video reflection for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 explores the story of Jesus healing a man possessed by a demon and the Pharisees’ misunderstanding of his power. It then transitions to a personal story of an elderly woman with a back problem who faithfully attended Mass every Sunday, despite her pain.
The reflection highlights the woman’s strength and the impact her presence had on others, emphasizing that even when we may not fully comprehend our actions, our faithfulness and willingness to be present can bring healing and inspire others.
Resources
The Book of Genesis: Wrestling with God and Finding a New Name
In Genesis 32:23-33, read on Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jacob is on the brink of meeting his estranged brother Esau. The night before, he is left alone and wrestles with a mysterious man. This passage fits within Genesis’s larger story of God working through flawed individuals to fulfill His promises. Jacob’s struggle and renaming reflect a turning point. His new name, Israel, signals a shift from a deceiver to one who strives with God. It marks a deep personal transformation tied to God’s covenant plan.
This moment also connects with the broader theme of struggle in the life of faith. Jacob doesn’t win the fight, but he is blessed. The limp he carries shows that encounters with God can leave us changed, sometimes wounded, but always marked by grace. His experience reflects the journey of the people who will carry his name—Israel.
Psalm 17: A Cry for Justice and Shelter
Psalm 17, read on Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, is a prayer of a faithful person who is confident in God’s justice. This psalm fits within the larger pattern of the Psalter as a book of prayer, lament, and hope. The psalmist stands before God claiming innocence and seeking protection. This highlights a strong theme in the Psalms: trusting God in the face of threats and seeking refuge in His presence.
The final verse looks toward the hope of seeing God’s face—an image of intimacy with the divine. This connects with a major focus of the psalms: longing for closeness with God, not just rescue from danger. Even when tested, the psalmist chooses to dwell in God’s shadow. It is a quiet trust that even in pain, God’s justice and love remain.
The Gospel of Matthew: Healing, Compassion, and the Mission
Matthew 9:32-38, proclaimed on Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, shows Jesus healing a man possessed by a demon, restoring both speech and freedom. This passage fits into Matthew’s broader focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s hopes. Jesus is the one who brings God’s kingdom near—through teaching, healing, and casting out evil. The people marvel, but the Pharisees reject Him. This shows the growing divide between the crowds who receive Jesus and the leaders who oppose Him.
This moment also leads to a key message of Matthew’s Gospel: the mission of the Church. Jesus sees the crowds and feels deep compassion. He tells the disciples to pray for laborers, pointing to the need for more workers to continue His mission. The harvest is ready. This connects to Matthew’s theme of discipleship—being sent to bring healing, truth, and care to a weary world.
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Questions and Answers for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1
Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For even numbered years see Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.
Why did Jacob wrestle with a mysterious man all night in the first reading for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?
Jacob’s wrestling shows his struggles in life. It teaches us that we also face many struggles. Like Jacob, we need to keep faith and persevere.
What does Jacob’s new name, Israel, mean?
Israel means “one who struggles with God and humans and prevails.” This name change marks a new beginning for Jacob. It shows how struggles can lead to new opportunities.
How did Jacob see God and live?
Jacob saw God’s presence in the man he wrestled. This shows that God is with us even in difficult times. It reminds us that God can be present in unexpected ways.
Why did Jesus heal the mute man in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?
Jesus healed the mute man to show His power and care. This healing teaches us to trust in Jesus’ ability to heal. It shows us that Jesus cares deeply for those who suffer.
Why were the Pharisees angry with Jesus?
The Pharisees were angry because they did not believe in Jesus. They were jealous of His power and influence. This reminds us that doing good can sometimes lead to opposition.
Why did Jesus feel compassion for the people?
Jesus saw the people as troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. His compassion shows His deep care for us. It teaches us to also care for those in need.
What does Jesus mean by “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”?
Jesus means that many people need to hear God’s word, but few are spreading it. He asks for more workers to help. This reminds us to pray for and become those workers.
How can we apply these readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 to our lives?
We can remember that struggles are part of life and that God is with us. We can trust in Jesus’ healing power. We should also feel compassion for others and pray for more people to help in God’s work.
What lessons can we learn from Jacob’s story?
Jacob’s story teaches us to keep faith during struggles. It shows that struggles can lead to new beginnings. It also reminds us that God is always with us.
What should we do in response to Jesus’ call for more workers?
We should pray for more people to spread God’s word. We should also be willing to help in this work. This is how we can respond to Jesus’ call.
Struggling with God and Trusting His Care
The readings for Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 remind us of God’s presence in our struggles and His compassion for His people. In Genesis, Jacob wrestles with a man all night. This mysterious figure is later revealed to be God. Jacob refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. God blesses Jacob and changes his name to Israel, marking a new chapter in his life. This story shows us that struggles can lead to blessings when we hold on to faith and trust in God.
In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man who cannot speak because of demonic possession. The crowd is amazed at Jesus’ power, but the Pharisees criticize Him. Jesus continues to show compassion, traveling to towns and villages to teach, heal, and proclaim the good news. He is moved with pity for the crowds because they are like sheep without a shepherd.
These readings teach us to trust God in our struggles and rely on His care. Jacob’s wrestling with God reminds us that perseverance and faith lead to blessings. Jesus’ actions show us the depth of His compassion and His desire to guide and heal His people.
Your Turn
Take a moment to reflect on Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1. How can you trust God more during your struggles? What can you do to share Jesus’ compassion with others?
Share your reflections in the comments. Let us encourage each other to hold on to faith, trust God’s care, and show kindness to those in need.
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