Daily Readings - Wed Jul 10 2024
Hosea
1Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.3For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?7As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Matthew
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our spiritual journey and mission. The first reading from Hosea paints a vivid picture of Israel's spiritual decay, where abundance has led to idolatry and division. Hosea calls the people to return to justice and renew their relationship with God, warning that their idols will crumble, leaving them to seek refuge in the mountains. This passage serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of spiritual complacency and the importance of seeking justice and mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the mission of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus, in His wisdom, commissions the twelve apostles to minister specifically to the lost sheep of Israel, instructing them to preach the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. This mission is not just about healing the physical ailments but also about addressing the spiritual decay that had taken root. The apostles are called to be agents of redemption, much like Hosea's call to Israel to return to justice.
These readings remind us that our faith is not a passive endeavor but an active call to live out God's justice and mercy. Just as the apostles were sent out, we too are called to be proactive in our faith, reaching out to those around us who may be lost or in need. Let us avoid the pitfalls of complacency and instead strive to renew our spiritual lives, seeking God's justice and living out His love in our daily interactions. May we, like the apostles, be bold in proclaiming the nearness of God's kingdom, bringing hope and redemption to a world in need.