Daily Readings - Mon Jul 06 2020
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 that illuminate God's enduring love and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Hosea presents a poignant metaphor of God's relationship with His people, likening it to a lover pursuing His beloved. Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God's love remains unwavering, promising redemption and restoration. This passage, written in a time of national crisis, serves as a reminder of God's mercy and His desire to renew His covenant with His people.
The Gospel from Matthew offers two miracles that underscore the centrality of faith in God's plan of salvation. The ruler, desperate for his daughter's life, approaches Jesus with trust, and the woman, suffering for twelve years, reaches out in hope. Both stories highlight Jesus' power to heal and restore, but more importantly, they reveal the necessity of faith. Jesus' words to the woman, "Your faith has made you well," and His assurance to the ruler, "Do not be afraid; just have faith," invite us to reflect on the role of trust in our own lives.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived response to God's initiative. Like the woman who touched Jesus' garment, we are called to approach Him with confidence, knowing that His love is always available to us. In our daily struggles, may we, like the ruler and the woman, turn to God with faith, trusting in His plan and allowing His love to transform us. Let us remember that God's love is relentless, and His mercy endures forever.