First reading Hosea 8:4-7,11-13
They have sown the wind; they will reap the whirlwind
Thus says the Lord:
They have set up kings, but not with my consent,
and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols,
which are doomed to destruction.
I spurn your calf, Samaria,
my anger blazes against it.
(How long will it be before they purge themselves of this,
the sons of Israel?)
A workman made the thing,
this cannot be God!
Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames.
They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind;
their wheat will yield no ear,
the ear will yield no flour,
or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.
Ephraim has built altar after altar,
they have only served him as occasion for sin.
Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him,
they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger.
They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice!
They love meat; right, let them eat it!
The Lord takes no pleasure in these.
He is now going to remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they will have to go back to Egypt.
Responsorial Psalm 113B(115):3-10
Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord.
or
Alleluia!
Our God, he is in the heavens;
he does whatever he wills.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but they cannot speak;
they have eyes but they cannot see;
they have ears but they cannot hear;
they have nostrils but they cannot smell.
With their hands they cannot feel;
with their feet they cannot walk.
Their makers will come to be like them
and so will all who trust in them.
Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
Gospel Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few
A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
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Jesus’ loving way of seeing
In today’s gospel, there were two reactions to the healing of a dumb man by Jesus. The people who witnessed the healing were amazed and saw the goodness behind Jesus’ action. However, the religious leaders saw the same event but saw evil instead. The religious leaders were blinded to God’s presence in Jesus because their hearts were hardened by their personal hatred for Him. We are invited to imitate the way Jesus looked at people. He always saw goodness in others, even in those whom the rest of society regarded as sinners. Today, let us see with Jesus’ eyes and perceive the good in others.
The gospel also tells us that Jesus recognised that the people coming to Him were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. He did not look at them as obstacles but as people who needed love and hope. He reached out to them with compassionate love. Today, Jesus asks us to be labourers working with Him in the mission field. The mission starts when we can look at others around us with eyes of compassionate love.
Question for reflection:
What lenses do I use to perceive others?
What lenses do I use to perceive others?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
