Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 9, 2018
First Reading: Hosea 2.14, 15b-16, 19-20
14"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.15And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.16"And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.'19And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.20I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Gospel: Matthew 9.18-26
18While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."19And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.20And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,21for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well."22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.23And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,24he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.26And the report of this went through all that district.
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.