HOLY MASS READINGS ON THURSDAY,JULY 10, 2014 FIRST READING> Hosea 11:1-4,8-9 © Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them. I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek; stooping down to him I gave him his food. Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I treat you like Admah, or deal with you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils from it, my whole being trembles at the thought. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy. REFLECTION>I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek. Hosea presents a heart-warming and charming image of a God who loves us tenderly. We are mere babes, and he is the loving father who stoops down to give us food, lifts us up to his cheek, cradles us in his arms, and walks with us, restraining us with reins of kindness and leading strings of love. Hosea could write so movingly of divine love in terms of human love because he had experienced in his own family the anguish of unrequited love and infidelity. His picture of a God who loves his children is the same father we see in the parable of the prodigal son, the father who is ever loving no matter what his children may do. RESPONSORIAL PSALM> Psalm 79:2-3,15-16 © R - Let your face shine on us, O Lord, and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hear us, shine forth from your cherubim throne. O Lord, rouse up your might, O Lord, come to our help. R - Let your face shine on us, O Lord, and we shall be saved. God of hosts, turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. R - Let your face shine on us, O Lord, and we shall be saved. Gospel Acclamation Ps94:8 Alleluia, alleluia! Harden not your hearts today, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia! Or Mk1:15 Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand: repent and believe the Good News. Alleluia! HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO ST MATTHEW, CHAPTER 10:7-15 © Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep. ‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you. And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly, on the day of Judgement it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrah as with that town.’ MEDITATION: Do you believe that the Gospel has power to change your life and the lives of others? Jesus gave his disciples a two-fold commission to speak in his name and to act with his power. The core of the Gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who freely submit to God and who honor him as their Lord and King. In the Lords prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Doing the works which Jesus did Jesus also commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did - bringing the healing power and mercy of God to the weary and oppressed. The Gospel has power to set people free from sin, sickness, fear, and oppression. The Lord Jesus will free us from anything that keeps us from loving him and our neighbor with joy and confidence. Sharing generously what God has given to each one of us Jesus said to his disciples: Freely you have received, freely give. What they have received from Jesus they must now pass on to others without expecting a favor in return, whether it be in form of a gift or payment. They must show by their attitude that their first interest is in serving God, not receiving material gain. They must serve without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must travel light - only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them - in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or reward. Poverty of spirit frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves. Support the work of the Gospel with your resources Secondly, Jesus said: the worker deserves his sustenance. Here we see a double-truth: the worker of God must not be overly-concerned with material things, but the people of God must never fail in their duty to give the worker of God what he or she needs to sustain themselves in the Lords service. Do you pray for the work of the Gospel and do you support it with your material and financial resources? Jesus ends his instructions with a warning: If people reject Gods invitation and refuse his word, then they bring judgment and condemnation on themselves. When God gives us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond. Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond to his word. God gives us his word that we may have life - abundant life - in him. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. God shares his word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the Gospel by word and example to those around you? “Lord Jesus, may the joy and truth of the Gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.” SOURCE>RCNet
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 06:42:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015