FIRST READING
Hosea 14:2-10
Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.” I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree”— because of me you bear fruit!
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14 and 17
R. (17b) My mouth will declare your praise.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. My mouth will declare your praise.
ALLELUIA
John 16:13a; 14:26d
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 10:16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
REFLECTIONS:
What does Jesus mean when he says his disciples must
be sheep in the midst of wolves? The prophet Isaiah foretold a time
when wolves and lambs will dwell in peace (Isaiah 11:6 and 65:25).
This certainly refers to the second coming of Christ when all will be united
under the Lordship of Jesus after he has put down his enemies and established
the reign of God over the heavens and the earth. In the meantime, the disciples
must expect opposition and persecution from those who oppose the gospel.
Jesus never hesitated to tell his disciples what they might expect if they
followed him. Here Jesus says to his disciples: This is my task for
you at its grimmest and worst; do you accept it? This is not the world's
way of offering a job. After the defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill offered his
country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This is not the message we
prefer to hear when the Lord Jesus commissions us in his service. Nonetheless,
our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid
down his life for us. Are you willing to accept hardship and suffering
in following after the Lord?
"Lord Jesus, help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships,
adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen
my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your
will.
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