Daily Readings - Thu Jul 11 2024
Hosea
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.
Matthew
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.