From Cults to Care

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the motivation of our life as Christians in the context of how open we are to connection to communities outside our Church and Culture.

Care for Community

The Reading from the Prophet Hosea presents Destruction of Idolatrous Cultic Objects.

* [10:3] No king: the instability of the monarchy (7:3–7) and its vassalage to foreign kings (7:8–16) render the monarchy ineffective. The kings do the opposite of what they are supposed to do (10:4).

* [10:8] Aven: wickedness, first of all at Bethel (v. 5), but also at all the high places. (Hosea, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 105 invites Israel to praise and seek the presence of God.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus proclaims the Mission of the Twelve and their Commissioning. 

* [10:1–11:1] After an introductory narrative (Mt 10:1–4), the second of the discourses of the gospel. It deals with the mission now to be undertaken by the disciples (Mt 10:5–15), but the perspective broadens and includes the missionary activity of the church between the time of the resurrection and the parousia.

* [10:1] His twelve disciples: although, unlike Mark (Mk 3:13–14) and Luke (Lk 6:12–16), Matthew has no story of Jesus’ choosing the Twelve, he assumes that the group is known to the reader. The earliest New Testament text to speak of it is 1 Cor 15:5. The number probably is meant to recall the twelve tribes of Israel and implies Jesus’ authority to call all Israel into the kingdom. While Luke (Lk 6:13) and probably Mark (Mk 4:10, 34) distinguish between the Twelve and a larger group also termed disciples, Matthew tends to identify the disciples and the Twelve. Authority…every illness: activities the same as those of Jesus; see Mt 4:23; Mt 9:35; 10:8. The Twelve also share in his proclamation of the kingdom (Mt 10:7). But although he teaches (Mt 4:23; 7:28; 9:35), they do not. Their commission to teach comes only after Jesus’ resurrection, after they have been fully instructed by him (Mt 28:20).

* [10:2–4] Here, for the only time in Matthew, the Twelve are designated apostles. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent,” and therefore fits the situation here described. In the Pauline letters, the place where the term occurs most frequently in the New Testament, it means primarily one who has seen the risen Lord and has been commissioned to proclaim the resurrection. With slight variants in Luke and Acts, the names of those who belong to this group are the same in the four lists given in the New Testament (see note on Mt 9:9). Cananean: this represents an Aramaic word meaning “zealot.” The meaning of that designation is unclear (see note on Lk 6:15).

* [10:5–6] Like Jesus (Mt 15:24), the Twelve are sent only to Israel. This saying may reflect an original Jewish Christian refusal of the mission to the Gentiles, but for Matthew it expresses rather the limitation that Jesus himself observed during his ministry. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Vivian Amu comments that we have all been “lost sheep” at some point—wandering through seasons of doubt, loneliness, or numbness, carrying more questions than answers, wondering if anyone even notices our absence. But the call of Jesus is gentle and steady, “Come back home…..and as you come home, invite others.” 

 

Hosea chapter 10 reminds us that in order to do the outward work that Jesus is asking us to do, we need to start with an inward check. We need to check our “luxuriant vines”—our hearts. We do not need to have it all figured out to respond to this call. The apostles didn’t either. They went out tired, flawed, and unsure at times, but what mattered was their “yes.” The same is true for us. God is asking for availability. God is asking us to show up—imperfect, busy, tired—because it is God’s strength and love that makes the difference. God’s kingdom is breaking into the world through everyday people willing to reflect God’s love in simple, tangible ways. So, let us start where we are—being open, being kind. Let God use us, and as we step out, even in small ways, we will find that God’s kingdom is often closer than we think—it is already at work, through us.

 

Lord, keep our eyes and hearts open to find those who are lost, and remind us that You are always near. Amen. (Amu, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus empowers his disciples to act in his name,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

" If the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified, how then did the disciples cast out the unclean spirits? They did this by his own command, by the Son's authority.2 Note the careful timing of their mission. They were not sent out at the beginning of their walk with him. They were not sent out until they had sufficiently benefited by following him daily. It was only after they had seen the dead raised, the sea rebuked, devils expelled, the legs of a paralytic brought to life, sins remitted, lepers cleansed, and had received a sufficient proof of his power both by deeds and words - only then did he send them out. And he did not send them out unprepared to do dangerous deeds, for as yet there was no danger in Palestine. They had only to stand against verbal abuse. However, Jesus still warned them of larger perils to come, preparing them for what was future." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 32.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Hosea was a prophet in the Northern Kingdom before it was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BCE.. Hosea asserts that their worship of other gods brought on the invasion. Their shrines are sometimes referred both to Baal and Yahweh, often called by the title “Adonai” or Lord. This may have caused confusion with social justice and reform to the treatment of the poor. The twelve Apostles are commissioned in the Gospel of Matthew. Friar comments that the final editor of Matthew’s Gospel was likely a converted Pharisee and used the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven” to avoid the name of God when the time of Love and Law are fully lived.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 10:1-7 comments that the disciples did as Jesus had commanded them. They preached the gospel. They cured the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons. People’s lives were changed, and the kingdom began to spread.

Don’t ever think you’re insignificant. Every one of us is a part of God’s plan! So seek to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading today. Just by doing what the Lord asks of you, even the smallest thing, you are bringing the kingdom closer.

“Lord, let your heavenly kingdom reign in me and through me today!” (Meditation on Matthew 10:1-7, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, explains why the third beatitude would have been simultaneously shocking and comforting to Jesus’s listeners. Author Micha Boyett considers how Jesus’s listeners would have understood the paradox of the meek “inheriting the land”:  

“Makarioi [Greek for “happy”] are the powerless ones,” Jesus says. “They shall have the earth as an inheritance.” They will recognize that the earth has always been theirs. He is getting at something essential to the spiritual life: our ownership is temporal. According to the psalmist, human beings are like the leaves of grass, here for a moment and then, poof, gone. We’re all stewards here, and the land remains long after we’ve become the dust we came from. Only the divine one possesses it. In God’s dream for the world, possession is an illusion. When we humble ourselves, when we release our hands from all that we have tried to control and cling to, we discover that those who possess the land are the ones living under the illusion. But the ones who release their power and the ones who never had power to begin with inherit the really real…. (Rohr, n.d.)

We continue to need the help of the Spirit to focus on the mission we have been anointed by our Baptism to be priest, prophet, and leader in the journey to the “Kingdom of Heaven” that Jesus intends us to begin here and now for all people.

References

Amu, V. (2026, July 8). Daily Reflection July 8, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-8-2026 

Hosea, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/10?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10? 

Meditation on Matthew 10:1-7. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/08/1610528/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Land for the Humble. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/land-for-the-humble/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Gives His Disciples Authority to Heal and Set Free. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 8, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Inspired to Work in His Harvest

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open to the healing of Jesus as we join Him working for fullness of life in the field of our environment.

Bridge to Labour in Our Environment

The Reading from the Prophet Hosea protests against the conspiracies at the royal court.

* [8:4] Hosea is not against the monarchy, but against the conspiracies at the royal court (see note on 7:3–7). The king should be chosen by God (1 Kgs 19:15–16).

* [8:5] Calf: a cultic object introduced by Jeroboam I after the separation of the Northern Kingdom from the Southern Kingdom (1 Kgs 12:26–30; cf. Ex 32).

* [8:11] The altars had become places of self-serving worship (cf. v. 13).

* [8:13] Return to Egypt: to punish their violation of the covenant they will experience a reversal of the exodus. (Hosea, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 115 ridicules the lifeless idols of the nations.

* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus healing a Mute Person and the Compassion of Jesus.

* [9:32–34] The source of this story seems to be Q (see Lk 11:14–15). As in the preceding healing of the blind, Matthew has two versions of this healing, the later in Mt 12:22–24 and the earlier here.

* [9:34] This spiteful accusation foreshadows the growing opposition to Jesus in Mt 11 and 12.

* [9:35] See notes on Mt 4:23–25; Mt 8:1–9:38.

* [9:36] See Mk 6:34; Nm 27:17; 1 Kgs 22:17.

* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Hopp asks: “Do we truly understand who is in charge of our world? Do we really understand the consequences of not following God’s will?” Today’s Daily Readings provide stark insight into what can happen when people stray from following God’s directives. But less we become discouraged when considering how closely today’s world parallels Israel during Hosea’s time, today’s Readings close with a strong challenge from Jesus designed to both provide insight as to the seriousness of this tendency to stray from His will and how we should respond.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are reminded of how easy it is for us to allow the world to draw us away from you and your will for our lives. Help us to remember that there are indeed consequences for straying from your will. Give us the courage to use our lives daily to point others to your saving grace. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, 2026)

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.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Hosea's role is best understood in the history of Israel. Jeroboam had ruled the northern two tribes and concluded the people needed to stop going to the shrines in Jerusalem. He created a shrine with two idols of calves intended to be the throne where God would appear. Hosea called the people to “Cast away your calf.” The northern kingdom was a “banana kingdom” and God had chosen David to “sow the wind and reap the whirlwind”. The people had made a bad choice and would suffer consequences. The Pharisees declared that Jesus heals demons by the “prince of demons”. They won’t believe the truth before their eyes. The shepherds of Israel have failed. Jesus asks the Lord of the harvest to send workers. Friar Jude reminds us that we are collaborators with Jesus to spread the word of God as intended by the Father.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26 comments that Jesus wants to send every believer to reach out to those who are troubled and abandoned. Each of us can share the compassionate heart of Jesus for those who are searching, confused, or misled. We can proclaim the good news of God’s faithfulness and mercy in our lives and bring the love of Jesus wherever we go.

Think of your daily life. You probably come into contact with lots of people who might never have had an opportunity—or maybe wouldn’t want one—to speak to a priest. But you can reach them. Maybe it’s someone at work or your roommate or the neighbor down the street. Maybe it’s a chance encounter with someone in the checkout line at a store or after you drop off your kids at school or a caregiver who comes into your home. Can you look at each of these people with the gaze of Jesus the Good Shepherd? Can you allow your heart to be moved when you see the ways they are “troubled and abandoned”? Your presence, your words, and the witness of your life can make a difference in their lives!

Are you ready to be sent?

“Jesus, my shepherd, help me to be more like you!” (Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on the sacred nature of our ability to grieve—our own pain and that of the world.  New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine describes how Jesus’s listeners would have heard echoes of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah’s message of consolation. Father Richard recognizes mourning as a quality that connects the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.

Mourning might be thought of as the prophetic “way of tears,” a letting down of our defenses, in stark contrast to our more common ways of heroic willpower, commandment, obedience, force, anger, and legitimated violence. It takes an initial tender vulnerability (“wounding”) to defeat our ego and to open us to full consciousness—which must include the scary unconscious! It is a movement, frankly, from the Ten Commandments to the eight Beatitudes. A movement that the prophets illustrated for us twenty-five hundred years ago, and that we need—out of desire and desperation—to recover today. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)

Sadly, the resonance of our society with the attraction to false gods condemned by Hosea is very evident as we invoke the Spirit in our contemplation of our action to be Jesus' workers in the cultivation of an abundant harvest of faith, hope and love.

References

Hopp, L. (2026, July 7). Daily Reflection July 7, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-7-2026 

Hosea, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/8? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?32 

Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/07/1610031/ 

Psalms, PSALM 115 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/115?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Blessed Are Those Who Mourn. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/blessed-are-those-who-mourn/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Never Seen Anything like This. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 7, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Fear Faith and Freedom

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge our concepts of fear and proclaim our faith is the path to freedom from beast-like behaviour.

Walk with Faith in Freedom

The Reading from the Prophet Hosea introduces an oracle of doom that surprisingly leads to hope.

* [2:18–19] Baal: the word means “lord, master.” It was commonly used by women of their husbands, but it is to be shunned as a title for the Lord because of its association with the fertility gods, the Baals. Many Israelites saw little if any difference between the worship of the Lord and the worship of the Baals, thereby dishonoring the true source of the land’s fertility. (Hosea, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 declares the “works of God” make God present and invite human praise

* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus declares as saved a woman suffering hemorrhages and the Daughter of a Synagogue leader is healed.

* [9:18–34] In this third group of miracles, the first (Mt 9:18–26) is clearly dependent on Mark (Mk 5:21–43). Though it tells of two miracles, the cure of the woman had already been included within the story of the raising of the official’s daughter, so that the two were probably regarded as a single unit. The other miracles seem to have been derived from Mark and Q, respectively, though there Matthew’s own editing is much more evident.

* [9:18] Official: literally, “ruler.” Mark calls him “one of the synagogue officials” (Mk 5:22). My daughter has just died: Matthew heightens the Marcan “my daughter is at the point of death” (Mk 5:23).

* [9:20] Tassel: possibly “fringe.” The Mosaic law prescribed that tassels be worn on the corners of one’s garment as a reminder to keep the commandments (see Nm 15:37–39; Dt 22:12).

* [9:24] Sleeping: sleep is a biblical metaphor for death (see Ps 87:6 LXX; Dn 12:2; 1 Thes 5:10). Jesus’ statement is not a denial of the child’s real death, but an assurance that she will be roused from her sleep of death. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Kimberly Grassmeyer comments that people of privilege, like an “Official”, can influence or buy positive outcomes.  We might wonder: Why did Jesus help “that guy”, when so many other children die?  Why was he more deserving? 

On deeper reflection, what became more meaningful to me was the reading’s illustration that the power and love of our God is always available, and available  to all of us.  “Ask and it shall be given.”  The more powerful Official asked for help, and witnessed a miracle.  The less powerful woman shyly acted in hope of a cure, and a cure was provided.  Who can say which of the two was more deserving?  Which of the two had greater faith?  The good news for all of us is that God’s love is abundant and unending: power, status, or any other socially constructed identifier doesn’t matter after all.  We all have equal access.  Ask.  It shall be given.  Amen.  (Grassmeyer, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Daughter, your faith has made you well,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

"So what did Messiah do? He did not let her go unnoticed but led her into the center of attention and made her visible. He had many reasons for doing this. Some might imagine that 'he did this merely for love of glory - otherwise why would he not allow her to remain concealed?' But what are they proposing who might say this? That he should keep her silent, that he should ignore her need, and thereby pass up miracles too numerous to mention, all because he is in love with glory? What an unholy thought, inspired by the most unholy one of all."

"What then is his intention in bringing her forward? First, Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen the gift. Second, he corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen. Third, he makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith. Fourth, his subduing the fountains of her hemorrhage was another sign of his knowledge of all things. And finally, do you remember the ruler of the synagogue? He was at the point of despair, of utter ruin. Jesus is indirectly admonishing him by what he says to the woman." (excerpt from the THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 31.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Hosea married Gomer, an unfaithful wife who he forgave even as she kept turning away. Hosea presents this as a lesson to Israel continuing to return to false gods. Hosea proclaims Israel has been following her “baal”. Hosea will allure her, Gomer, as God will Israel into the desert to initiate a second opportunity to be espoused again. God wants the sinner to turn and return to His grace. By choosing sin we become cheap and beast-like. There are two healings in Matthew’s Gospel today. Touching the cloak of Jesus as an unclean person, was in opposition to Jewish culture that would have made Jesus unclean too. She touched and her faith has saved her, indicating Spirit and body were healed in an expression of faith. The mourners have begun to mark the death of the daughter of the Synagogue official and Jesus declares her sleeping and brings her back to life. Friar Jude notes there are two healings, smaller and larger. The daughter is not resurrected to eternal life, but reanimated because one day in the future she will die.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26 comments that each of us faces struggles or fears that can drown out the truths of faith. The noise of our doubts, the lies of the evil one, and maybe even the words of other people can confuse us about Jesus’ love and presence with us in our struggles. They can shake our faith and provoke panic in our hearts.

At moments like that, imagine Jesus beside you. Bring your swirling thoughts to him. Imagine him telling your doubts and fears to go away as he marches them to the door. Stay with Jesus. It can take time for these voices to calm down and the turmoil to dispel. Believe that he is with you and that he knows what he’s going to do. Trust in him no matter how long it takes. Let him remind you that you are his, and he will never leave you. He is your Lord; you can surrender every part of your life to him. Peace really is possible as you persist in bringing your “commotion” to Jesus and letting him deal with it.

Not only is Jesus with you, but he lives in you. So turn to him in the uproar, and let the peace and quiet of his presence strengthen your faith.

“Jesus, you are faithful. I fix my eyes on you as you take me by the hand.” (Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, explores the first beatitude as a call to interior freedom, a key to participating in the kingdom of God. Christian Scripture scholars point out that the Greek word usually used for the peasant class is “tapeinoi”, but that is not the word Matthew and Luke use here. They use the word “ptochoi”, which literally means “the very empty ones, those who are crouching.” They are the beggars, the nobodies of this world who have nothing left. Jesus is saying, “Happy are you, you’re the freest of them all.”

The higher up we are in the system, the more trapped we are. The more we are outside the system, the freer we are. When we are high up in anything, we are expected to represent it, hold it together, and affirm it. The price of the truth can be very great, so we say what is needed to survive and to be liked inside the group, and to hold the group in unity.

“How blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), the ones who don’t have to play any of these games. Jesus is recommending a social reordering here, quite different from common practice. Notice how he also uses present tense: “The kingdom of God is theirs” (Matthew 5:3). He doesn’t say “will be theirs.” That tells us that the kingdom of God isn’t later. It’s present tense: We are the free ones now, if we remain without anything to protect or anything we need to prove or defend. (Rohr, n.d.)

As we contemplate the interaction of fear with our faith and freedom we implore the Spirit to guide our action as we live out our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Grassmeyer, K. (2026, July 6). Daily Reflection July 6, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-6-2026 

Hosea, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/2? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?18 

Meditation on Matthew 9:18-26. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/06/1609483/ 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). How Do We Become Poor in Spirit? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/how-do-we-become-poor-in-spirit/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heart, Your Faith Has Made You Well. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/