The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to look beyond our day to day routines for moments of connection to the Presence of God that prompt us to greater love and compassion for others.
The reading from the Prophet Hosea declares the corruption of cult, domestic and foreign politics in Israel.
* [8:13] Return to Egypt: to punish their violation of the covenant they will experience a reversal of the exodus. (Hosea, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)
Psalm 115 contrasts the impotence of idols and the greatness of God.
* [Psalm 115] A response to the enemy taunt, “Where is your God?” This hymn to the glory of Israel’s God (Ps 115:1–3) ridicules the lifeless idols of the nations (Ps 115:4–8), expresses in a litany the trust of the various classes of the people in God (Ps 115:9–11), invokes God’s blessing on them as they invoke the divine name (Ps 115:12–15), and concludes as it began with praise of God. Ps 135:15–18 similarly mocks the Gentile gods and has a similar litany and hymn (Ps 135:19–21). (Psalms, PSALM 115, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shows compassion and heals one who was mute as He notes that the harvest Is great, the labourers few.
* [9:37–38] This Q saying (see Lk 10:2) is only imperfectly related to this context. It presupposes that only God (the master of the harvest) can take the initiative in sending out preachers of the gospel, whereas in Matthew’s setting it leads into Mt 10 where Jesus does so. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Cindy Costanzo declares that God needs each of us. He needs us individually and as part of our communities (work, church, family, neighborhood, volunteer) to care for each other, to forgive, to put God first and foremost in our lives so we can put others first and foremost in our lives. Our spirits need each other, we need to be present with each other, in this moment, because if not ‘now’ when?
In my own reflection I ask the following questions. How often am I “present” in each moment? Am I attentive, focused, providing utmost attention to the conversation? Do I notice the non-verbal behaviors/communications? What am I preoccupied with….watching T.V., searching the cell phone, flipping through email, rustling papers? How often are the words “did you hear what I said” stated? What have I missed during these absent times? What miscommunication has this evoked? What have I failed to witness? This brings me to the next message in today’s Gospel. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Freedom and healing in Christ,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"In the deaf and dumb and demoniac appear the need of the Gentiles for a complete healing. Beleaguered on all sides by misfortune, they were associated with all types of the body's infirmities. And in this regard a proper order of things is observed. For the devil is first cast out; then the other bodily benefits follow suit. With the folly of all superstitions put to flight by the knowledge of God, sight and hearing and words of healing are introduced. The declaration of the onlookers followed their admiration over what took place: 'Never has the like been seen in Israel.' Indeed, he whom the law could not help was made well by the power of the Word, and the deaf and dumb man spoke the praises of God. Deliverance has been given to the Gentiles. All the towns and all the villages are enlightened by the power and presence of Christ, and the people are freed from every impairment of the timeless malady. (excerpt from ON MATTHEW 9.10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38 comments that sometimes songs or hymns can help us sense that the Lord is with us. As we listen to the words, we may become a little more hopeful. We may remember that even when we feel lost, we can trust that God loves us and is holding us close. We may recall his faithfulness, that he has never forsaken us. It may not always be an instant fix, but music has a unique way of bringing us into God’s presence.
Just as he had compassion for the crowds, Jesus wants to be close to you today. Think about a song that speaks to you. It may be a beloved hymn, a carol, or a chant. Try to find that song and listen to it again. Maybe even sing along. Be open to Jesus’ presence as you ask him to speak to you through the words. Allow yourself to be comforted that he is near. Let God fill you with his peace, and trust that he is always walking with you. “Jesus, thank you for loving me.” (Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler describes the northern kingdom of Israel at the time of Hosea as a banana kingdom. Golden calves at the shrines in Bethel and Dan were originally connected to the Presence of God in the Ark of the Covenant but they became confused with the fertility gods of Baal. Matthew notes that the religious authorities claimed Jesus healed the mute by the “prince of demons''. Friar Jude reflects on the inability to see the Presence of God in the events of life.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Benedictine sister Joan Chittister, who writes of humanity’s inherent attraction to both community and individuality.
We say we seek unity, yes. But lurking within every human act is the gnawing need to be independent, to think of ourselves as distinct from the rest of life. [1]
Thomas Merton recognized this same paradox at the heart of what we think of as “salvation”:
We cannot find ourselves within ourselves, but only in others, yet at the same time before we can go out to others we must first find ourselves. We must forget ourselves in order to become truly conscious of who we are. The best way to love ourselves is to love others, yet we cannot love others unless we love ourselves since it is written, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” [Mark 12:31]. But if we love ourselves in the wrong way, we become incapable of loving anybody else. . . .
The only effective answer to the problem of salvation must therefore reach out to embrace both extremes of a contradiction. . . .(Rohr, n.d.)
We attend to the prompting of the Spirit to guide our journey through the paradox of losing our lives that becomes the means of gaining fullness in life.
References
Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070522.html
Hosea, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/8?4
Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?32
Meditation on Matthew 9:32-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/05/432041/
Psalms, PSALM 115. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/115?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Communal Paradox. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-communal-paradox-2022-07-05/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Never Seen Anything like This. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul5
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