Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 9, 2024
First Reading: Hosea 8.4-7, 11-13
4They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.5Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?6They are from Israel! This calf-a craftsman has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.7"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.11"Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.12I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something alien.13They offer sacrifices given to me and they eat the meat, but the LORD is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.
Psalm 115
1Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.2Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?"3Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.4But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.5They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;6they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell;7they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats.8Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.9O house of Israel, trust in the LORD - he is their help and shield.10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD - he is their help and shield.11You who fear him, trust in the LORD - he is their help and shield.12The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron,13he will bless those who fear the LORD - small and great alike.14May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children.15May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man.17It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to silence;18it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 9.32-38
32While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
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.