Daily Readings - Mon Jul 09 2018
Hosea
14Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.15And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.16And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.19And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.20I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.
Matthew
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.23And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of redemption and faith. The first reading from Hosea portrays God's promise to restore His people, using the metaphor of a spouse returning to her husband. This metaphor underscores God's enduring love and His plan to renew His covenant with His people through justice, mercy, and faith. The Gospel from Matthew presents two miracles: the healing of a woman who had bled for twelve years and the resurrection of a ruler's daughter. Both miracles highlight Jesus' compassion and the transformative power of faith.
The context of Hosea's prophecy is set against a backdrop of Israel's infidelity, where the prophet uses the metaphor of a broken marriage to illustrate the people's spiritual adultery. In contrast, Matthew's account showcases Jesus' authority and mercy, demonstrating how His divine power heals both physical and spiritual ailments. These readings connect through their emphasis on redemption and faith—Hosea's promise of restoration is fulfilled in Jesus' miracles, which embody God's loving intervention.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and approach Him with unwavering faith, even in adversity. Just as the woman and the ruler trusted Jesus for healing, we too can place our confidence in His power. The moral lesson here is the enduring nature of God's love and the call to live with faith and trust. Let us embrace this love and faith, knowing that God is always working for our good, just as He did for the woman and the ruler's daughter.