Daily Readings - Tue Jul 09 2024
Hosea
4They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.5Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?6For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.7For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.11Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.12I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.13They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
Matthew
32As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.33And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.34But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Sermon
The readings today offer us a profound reflection on faith, compassion, and the call to serve. In the first reading from Hosea, we hear the prophet’s lament over Israel’s rebellion against God. The people have turned to idols and false leaders, rejecting the Lord’s guidance. Hosea warns that their actions will lead to ruin, for they have sown sin and will reap chaos. This passage reminds us that when we turn away from God, we lose our way and become vulnerable to the forces of destruction. Yet, even in the midst of judgment, there is an underlying tone of sorrow and longing, as God’s heart remains open to His people, despite their infidelity.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus embodying the opposite of this rebellion. He heals a mute man possessed by a demon, restoring his voice and freeing him from bondage. The crowds are amazed, but the Pharisees dismiss the miracle, attributing it to the power of demons. This reaction reveals the spiritual blindness of those who refuse to see God’s work in their midst. Jesus, however, does not let this opposition deter Him. Instead, He continues His mission of teaching, preaching, and healing. When He sees the crowds, He is moved to compassion, for they are like sheep without a shepherd—lost and in need of guidance. This passage calls us to imitate Jesus’ compassion and to recognize the spiritual hunger around us.
The connection between the two readings lies in their emphasis on faithfulness and service. Hosea warns us about the consequences of turning away from God, while the Gospel shows us the heart of a shepherd who seeks to gather and heal His people. As disciples of Christ, we are called to be laborers in His harvest, to bring light and hope to a world in need. Let us pray for the grace to remain faithful to God’s ways and to respond with compassion to the struggles of those around us. May we, like Jesus, see the needs of others and be moved to action, trusting that God will send more workers into His harvest. In doing so, we become instruments of His mercy and love in a world that so desperately needs it.