Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 12, 2024
Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time
12th July 2024 (Friday)
Psalter: Week 2
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Hosea Hosea 14:1-9
Thus says the Lord; Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the corn; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17 (R. 17b)
R/. My mouth shall proclaim your praise
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Matthew 10:16-23
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak, or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Friday – Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: Jesus is no false leader who makes false promises to draw followers and to keep them in good spirits. He is clear and clean
1. The uniqueness of our God is He is a God who owns us up always. Whatever we are, He never disowns us. He assumes personal responsibility and cares for us. However sinful we are, however unfaithful and deviant we are, however, we pain Him, yet He keeps on loving us. However we fail Him, still, He keeps on trusting us and hoping in us.
2. Even though we do not bother to listen to Him, He speaks to us. Even though we place our trust in the things and powers of the world, He trusts us. Even though we do not own Him up at times, He always takes us to Him. He offers us plenty of possibilities and chances to return to Him. See how He assures Israel through the prophet Hosea in the first reading:
3. “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily…his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon; they shall flourish like the corn; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon”.
4. The same spirit of owning up continues in and through the person of Jesus in the NT. Pre-warning his disciples about the impending afflictions and persecutions for his sake, Jesus assures them that he will shield and guide them. “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak… for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”.
5. Trials and tribulations will never leave us. As long as we want to be loyal to him and committed to his mission, we can always expect struggles and hurdles. Jesus never makes false promises that following him will block all suffering or shield against them or reduces them so much. In fact, the irony is the more we are faithful to him, the more we will be tormented.
6. But one thing is sure: he will help us sail through the troubles. He will sustain us during the trial. He will embolden and strengthen us. Together with us He will fight the battle against evil. There are no shortcuts or special discounts for the disciples of Christ. But, if they endure to the end, they will be rewarded and saved.
Practice: The greatness of faith is not avoiding the difficulties of escaping from them. Rather true faith consists in confronting them and living through them patiently and courageously. We either bear them or overcome them, as per God’s holy will
