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.
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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Compassionate heart
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a man who cannot speak and restores his voice. He then travels through towns and villages, teaching and proclaiming the Good News about God’s Kingdom, as well as healing “all kinds of diseases and sickness.” His actions are motivated by a compassionate heart. The Gospel passage states: “When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Today, we are invited to have this same compassion grow in us and to motivate us to respond to others’ needs with loving actions. Many people around us may feel “harassed and dejected” on the inside, which can make them appear outwardly withdrawn, grumpy, and impatient. Instead of being quick to judge and hardening our hearts towards them, we can pause and ask, “What pain might be causing this behaviour?” In this moment of prayer, let us draw close to Jesus and ask Him to give us eyes of love to see the people we will encounter today, and have hearts of compassion to respond to their hidden struggles.
Reflective question:
Who might Jesus be asking me to see through His eyes of compassion?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
