First reading Hosea 2:16,17-18,21-22
I will betroth you to myself and you will come to know the name of the Lord
It is the Lord who speaks:
I am going to lure her
and lead her out into the wilderness
and speak to her heart.
I am going to give her back her vineyards,
and make the Valley of Achor a gateway of hope.
There she will respond to me as she did when she was young,
as she did when she came out of the land of Egypt.
When that day comes – it is the Lord who speaks –
she will call me, ‘My husband’,
no longer will she call me, ‘My Baal.’
I will betroth you to myself for ever,
betroth you with integrity and justice,
with tenderness and love;
I will betroth you to myself with faithfulness,
and you will come to know the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm 144(145):2-9
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Gospel Matthew 9:18-26
‘Your faith has restored you to health’
While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.
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I will speak to your heart
“I am going to lure her and lead her out into the wilderness and speak to her heart…” (1st reading). In prayer, God desires to bring us to the wilderness, the place of nothingness and silence, where He wants to speak words of love and hope. God never gives up on us, no matter how messy our lives or how our hearts are cluttered with pride, envy, anger, etc. With faithful love, He renews us anf gives us hope.
In today’s gospel, when Jesus arrived at the house of the official, people were wailing in grief because of the death of the young girl. However, Jesus said, “Get out of here, the little girl is not dead; she is asleep”. They laughed at Jesus upon hearing what He said. Jesus had no time for these scorners. We might struggle with voices of doubt, negativism, and fear- these “scorners” in us prevent us from living life with joy and hope. May we turn our attention to Jesus and give Him room to speak His words that bring us life and love.
Reflective question:
What word does Jesus want to tell me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
