Daily Readings - Tue Jul 10 2018
Hosea
4They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.5I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?6For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.7For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.11Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning.12Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.13As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.
Matthew
32As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him.33And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faithfulness, compassion, and the call to spiritual leadership. In the first reading from the prophet Hosea, we hear a stern warning to the people of Israel, who have turned away from God and embraced false idols. Hosea laments their rebellion, pointing out that their silver and gold, which they have turned into idols, cannot save them. He warns that their sin will lead to judgment and that they will reap the whirlwind for their faithlessness. This passage reminds us that when we place our trust in created things rather than the Creator, we risk losing our way and facing the consequences of our actions.
In the Gospel, we encounter Jesus, who embodies the opposite of the spiritual decay described in Hosea. Jesus heals a mute man possessed by a demon, and the crowds are amazed at His power. However, the Pharisees dismiss His miracles, attributing them to the power of the devil. Despite this opposition, Jesus continues His mission of preaching, teaching, and healing. He looks out over the crowds with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, and calls His disciples to pray for more laborers to help bring in the spiritual harvest. This passage highlights Jesus' deep concern for the lost and the importance of responding to the spiritual needs of others.
The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on the need for authentic spiritual leadership and the call to faithfulness. Hosea warns against the dangers of false idols and the consequences of turning away from God, while Jesus shows us what it means to be a true shepherd, offering healing, hope, and guidance to those in need. These readings challenge us to examine our own lives: Are we placing our trust in the right things? Are we responding to the call to serve others with compassion and love? Let us pray for the grace to remain faithful to God and to be instruments of His mercy and healing in the world.