Lectionary: 386
Reading 1
Hosea 11:1-4, 8e-9
Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
I drew them with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered them like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
they did not know that I was their healer.
My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16
R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken.
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Gospel
Matthew 10:7-15
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation:
‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your wordsC
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: BABY STEPS
"It was I Who taught Ephraim to walk, Who took them in My arms." –Hosea 11:3
When we were baptized, we received a new nature. We became new creations (Gal 6:15) and infants in Christ (1 Cor 3:1). Like all infants, we need to learn how to live. God our Father wants to teach us how to walk (Hos 11:3), eat, feel, think, hear, see, talk, pray, work, etc. If we realize our total dependence on Him, we will not stunt our growth by trying to teach ourselves how to live. Then we will learn how to do everything our Father wants us to do. We will learn to "cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons" (Mt 10:8). Our Father will make us "fully mature and lacking in nothing" (Jas 1:4). He will make us holy as He is holy (1 Pt 1:16) and perfect as He is perfect (Mt 5:48).
The Church calls us to focus on the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit cry out in our hearts "Abba," that is, "Father" (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15). Trusting in Him and completely dependent on Him, we will learn to live to the point that we will do even greater things than Jesus has done (Jn 14:12).
PRAYER: Abba, if necessary, may I unlearn what I know so You can teach me how to live.
PROMISE: "The kingdom of God is at hand!" –Mt 10:7, our transl.
PRAISE: Marvin built a church building for his town and a motel that he managed for many years. In his seventies, Marvin acted on a life-long call to the priesthood. He was ordained at age eighty. He converted his motel into a successful retreat center, and was appointed pastor of the church that he built, doubling his congregation by the time he died at age ninety-five.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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