Daily Readings - Mon Jul 09 2018
Hosea
14"Because of this, behold, I will attract her, and I will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart15And I will give to her, from the same place, her vinedressers, and the valley of Achor as a passage of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, and as in the days of her ascension from the land of Egypt16And it will be in that day," says the Lord, "that she will call me, ‘My Husband,’ and she will no longer call me, ‘My Baal.19And I will betroth you to me forever, and I will betroth you to me in justice and judgment, and in mercy and compassion20And I will wed you to me in faith, and you will know that I am the Lord
Matthew
18As he was speaking these things to them, behold, a certain ruler approached and adored him, saying: "Lord, my daughter has recently passed away. But come and impose your hand upon her, and she will live.19And Jesus, rising up, followed him, with his disciples20And behold, a woman, who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years, approached from behind and touched the hem of his garment21For she said within herself, "If I will touch even his garment, I shall be saved.22But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said: "Be strengthened in faith, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour23And when Jesus had arrived in the house of the ruler, and he had seen the musicians and the tumultuous crowd24he said, "Depart. For the girl is not dead, but asleep." And they derided him25And when the crowd had been sent away, he entered. And he took her by the hand. And the girl rose up26And the news of this went out to that entire land
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of redemption and faith. The first reading from Hosea portrays God's promise to restore His people, using the metaphor of a spouse returning to her husband. This metaphor underscores God's enduring love and His plan to renew His covenant with His people through justice, mercy, and faith. The Gospel from Matthew presents two miracles: the healing of a woman who had bled for twelve years and the resurrection of a ruler's daughter. Both miracles highlight Jesus' compassion and the transformative power of faith.
The context of Hosea's prophecy is set against a backdrop of Israel's infidelity, where the prophet uses the metaphor of a broken marriage to illustrate the people's spiritual adultery. In contrast, Matthew's account showcases Jesus' authority and mercy, demonstrating how His divine power heals both physical and spiritual ailments. These readings connect through their emphasis on redemption and faith—Hosea's promise of restoration is fulfilled in Jesus' miracles, which embody God's loving intervention.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and approach Him with unwavering faith, even in adversity. Just as the woman and the ruler trusted Jesus for healing, we too can place our confidence in His power. The moral lesson here is the enduring nature of God's love and the call to live with faith and trust. Let us embrace this love and faith, knowing that God is always working for our good, just as He did for the woman and the ruler's daughter.