Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 11, 2024
First Reading: Hosea 11.1, 3-5b, 8c-9
1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.4I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.5They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.9I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.
Psalm 80
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!3Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!4O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?5You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.6You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!8You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.9You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.11It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.12Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?13The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.14Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,15the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.16They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!17But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!18Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!19Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Gospel: Matthew 10.7-15
7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.9Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts,10no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.12As you enter the house, greet it.13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.15Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound reflections on God's love and our response to it. The passage from Hosea vividly portrays God's deep affection for Israel, likening it to a parent's love for a child. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God's mercy endures, as He heals and draws them with cords of love. This metaphor highlights God's relentless care and the sorrow He feels when His people turn away. Hosea's words remind us of the Exodus, a pivotal moment of God's deliverance, yet Israel's lack of conversion leads to a poignant expression of divine compassion, as God chooses not to destroy them, affirming His divine nature over human emotion.
In the Gospel, Matthew 10, Jesus commissions His disciples to spread the message of the kingdom, emphasizing trust in God's providence. He instructs them to travel lightly, relying on the hospitality of others, and to offer peace to those they meet. This mission comes with a warning: rejection of the message will have consequences, more severe than those faced by Sodom and Gomorrah. This passage underscores the importance of openness to God's word and the gravity of rejecting it.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God. Hosea shows us God's persistent love and mercy, while Matthew challenges us to trust in God's providence and to be open to His message. In our daily lives, let us embrace God's love with gratitude, trusting in His care. Let us also be mindful of how we receive His word, ensuring that our hearts remain open to His will. May we strive to live out these teachings, trusting in God's providence and being faithful stewards of His message.