Daily Readings - Mon Jul 06 2020
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 that illuminate God's enduring love and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Hosea presents a poignant metaphor of God's relationship with His people, likening it to a lover pursuing His beloved. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God's love remains unwavering, promising redemption and restoration. This passage, written in a time of national crisis, serves as a reminder of God's mercy and His desire to renew His covenant with His people.
The Gospel from Matthew offers two miracles that underscore the centrality of faith in God's plan of salvation. The ruler, desperate for his daughter's life, approaches Jesus with trust, and the woman, suffering for twelve years, reaches out in hope. Both stories highlight Jesus' power to heal and restore, but more importantly, they reveal the necessity of faith. Jesus' words to the woman, "Your faith has made you well," and His assurance to the ruler, "Do not be afraid; just have faith," invite us to reflect on the role of trust in our own lives.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived response to God's initiative. Like the woman who touched Jesus' garment, we are called to approach Him with confidence, knowing that His love is always available to us. In our daily struggles, may we, like the ruler and the woman, turn to God with faith, trusting in His plan and allowing His love to transform us. Let us remember that God's love is relentless, and His mercy endures forever.