Tuesday, July 8 2014; Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 384

Reading 1 
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

Thus says the LORD:
They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;
they established princes, but without my approval.
With their silver and gold they made
idols for themselves, to their own destruction.
Cast away your calf, O Samaria!
my wrath is kindled against them;
How long will they be unable to attain
innocence in Israel?
The work of an artisan,
no god at all,
Destined for the flames—
such is the calf of Samaria!

When they sow the wind, 
they shall reap the whirlwind;
The stalk of grain that forms no ear
can yield no flour;
Even if it could,
strangers would swallow it.

When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin,
his altars became occasions of sin.
Though I write for him my many ordinances,
they are considered as a stranger’s.
Though they offer sacrifice,
immolate flesh and eat it,
the LORD is not pleased with them.
He shall still remember their guilt
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10

R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.

R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.

R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them.

R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel 
Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: AN ALL-STAR CAST

"Cast away your calf, O Samaria!" –Hosea 8:5

After Solomon's death, Jeroboam seized control of the ten northern tribes of Israel. He knew his subjects would go south to worship in Jerusalem, thus eroding his power base and personal safety (1 Kgs 12:26-27). So Jeroboam sold out in order to keep himself rolling in power and money. He set aside truth and set up a new religion and culture. He built two golden calves (1 Kgs 12:28; see Ex 32:8), which were nothing less than idols, and told the people that the shrines of these calves were the "in" places to worship God. He relieved them of the "obligation" to travel to Jerusalem, making worship convenient and cheaper. The people were focused on convenience and money, not true worship of God. So they swallowed Jeroboam's scheme hook, line, and sinker.

Hosea addresses the idolatrous northern tribes of Israel: "Cast away your calf, O Samaria!" (Hos 8:5) He also addresses us. Hosea screams, "Cast away your TV and smartphones!" Some modern-day Jeroboams proclaim convenience and wealth. They have gradually shaped a culture which worships at the movies and the home entertainment center. They've relegated Sunday to a day of convenience rather than a day dedicated to worshiping God. These culture-destroyers produce TV programs, newspaper and magazine articles, and movies calculated to increase their own wealth rather than promote the glory of God and the good of humanity (Ez 34:2). Why do we follow them?

Jesus cast aside His own glory and humbled Himself out of love for us (Phil 2:7-8). "Cast away your calf" and labor for Jesus' harvest. In Jesus name, create a holy culture of life.

PRAYER: Jesus, I cast my cares on you (1 Pt 5:7) and I cast out of my life anything that distracts me from You.

PROMISE: "When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind." –Hos 8:7

PRAISE: Charles not only worships on Sunday but brings the Eucharist to those who can't get to Mass.

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