Daily Readings - Tue Jul 09 2024
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 offer us a profound reflection on faith, compassion, and the call to serve. In the first reading from Hosea, we hear the prophet’s lament over Israel’s rebellion against God. The people have turned to idols and false leaders, rejecting the Lord’s guidance. Hosea warns that their actions will lead to ruin, for they have sown sin and will reap chaos. This passage reminds us that when we turn away from God, we lose our way and become vulnerable to the forces of destruction. Yet, even in the midst of judgment, there is an underlying tone of sorrow and longing, as God’s heart remains open to His people, despite their infidelity.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus embodying the opposite of this rebellion. He heals a mute man possessed by a demon, restoring his voice and freeing him from bondage. The crowds are amazed, but the Pharisees dismiss the miracle, attributing it to the power of demons. This reaction reveals the spiritual blindness of those who refuse to see God’s work in their midst. Jesus, however, does not let this opposition deter Him. Instead, He continues His mission of teaching, preaching, and healing. When He sees the crowds, He is moved to compassion, for they are like sheep without a shepherd—lost and in need of guidance. This passage calls us to imitate Jesus’ compassion and to recognize the spiritual hunger around us.
The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on faithfulness and service. Hosea warns us about the consequences of turning away from God, while the Gospel shows us the heart of a shepherd who seeks to gather and heal His people. As disciples of Christ, we are called to be laborers in His harvest, to bring light and hope to a world in need. Let us pray for the grace to remain faithful to God’s ways and to respond with compassion to the struggles of those around us. May we, like Jesus, see the needs of others and be moved to action, trusting that God will send more workers into His harvest. In doing so, we become instruments of His mercy and love in a world that so desperately needs it.