Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 12, 2024
First Reading: Hosea 14.1-9
1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.2Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.3Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."4I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.5I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;6his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.7They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.8O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
Psalm 51
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;19then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Gospel: Matthew 10.16-23
16"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.19When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.21Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of trust, faith, and perseverance. The prophet Hosea calls the people of Israel to repentance, urging them to turn away from idolatry and return to the Lord with humble hearts. He paints a vivid picture of restoration, using imagery like the dew and the lily to illustrate the beauty and growth that come from repentance. Hosea's message is one of hope and mercy, reminding us that God's love is ever-ready to heal and restore those who return to Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face as they carry out their mission. He warns them of persecution and betrayal, even from their own families, but assures them that the Holy Spirit will guide their words and actions in times of trouble. Jesus emphasizes the importance of perseverance, promising that those who endure to the end will be saved. This message of trust in God's providence resonates deeply, encouraging us to remain faithful despite life's adversities.
Both readings remind us of the importance of placing our trust in God. Just as Hosea calls for repentance and return to the Lord, Jesus calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when the path is difficult. In our daily lives, we face various challenges and temptations, but through reflection and perseverance, we can grow closer to God. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan and remain faithful, for it is through this trust and perseverance that we find true spiritual growth and salvation.