The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess our dedication to the mission of Christ as we contemplate the state of the world in which we have become more separated from each other.
The reading from the Prophet Hosea is a plea for repentance and an assurance of forgiveness.
* [14:4] These good intentions promise a reversal of Israel’s sins: no more reliance on “Assyria,” i.e., on foreign alliances (see notes on 8:9 and 12:2), on “horses,” i.e., on human power (10:13), and on idolatry (8:4–6; 13:2). Israel will trust in the Lord alone. (Hosea, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a prayer for cleansing and pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. (Psalms, PSALM 51, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus describes coming persecutions of the apostles.
* [10:17] The persecutions attendant upon the post-resurrection mission now begin to be spoken of. Here Matthew brings into the discourse sayings found in Mk 13 which deals with events preceding the parousia. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Mike Kavan, reflecting on these readings in 2016, suggested he would have backed down and said thanks, but no thanks. Amazingly and thankfully, the Apostles did not. Their connection with Jesus was so strong. So compelling was the message that they not only did not back down, but they went out with a fervor that influences us today.
As I reflect on what this means to me, I first thank the Apostles for having the courage to deliver the message since it provides true hope and purpose. I also do my best to tap into the Holy Spirit and to be strong when confronted with situations where it would be far easier to give in and sin. As with the Apostles, Jesus sends us out as well. Now, it may not be to governors of the Roman Empire, but he does want us to live God’s message through our interactions with family members, co-workers, friends, and others. And although this may, at times, cause internal and external conflict, it is through our faith, words, and actions that we breathe life into the words of Jesus and prepare ourselves to endure, to celebrate, and to be saved not only temporally, but eternally. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Spirit of your heavenly Father speaks through you in every age,” by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD).
"To be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is not you who are speaking but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.' And he says in another place: 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). Does this mean that the people who heard those words of the Lord would be here until the end of the world? The Lord was referring, rather, not only to those about to depart from this life but also to the others, including us and those who would come after us in this life. He saw everyone in his single body, and the words he spoke, 'I am with you even to the end of the world,' were heard by them and by us too. And if we did not hear them then in our knowledge, we heard them in his foreknowledge. Therefore, safe as sheep among the wolves, let us keep the commandments of him who directs us. And let us be 'innocent as doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew 10:16). Innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us." (excerpt from the Sermon 44a.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hosea 14:2-10 that when urging them to take words with them, the prophet Hosea told the Israelites to be straightforward in their dealings with the Lord. Likewise for us, we shouldn’t try to cover things up or gloss over our sins. We shouldn’t let pride block the truth. Instead, we should just go and tell the Lord, in our own words, what we have done. We should, in our own words, ask him to wash us clean.
Jesus wants to lift us up. He wants to receive us and cleanse us. He wants us to enjoy his presence and his grace. He knows that the only way for this to happen is if we confess our sins and ask the Lord for his mercy. The good news is that as soon as we do confess, we are forgiven. All the obstacles are removed, and God’s grace floods our hearts. Nothing compares with the feeling of freedom or the sense of relief and happiness that comes when we take words with us and seek the mercy of the Lord!
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense” (Psalm 51:3). (Meditation on Hosea 14:2-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Hosea explains the purpose of punishment of the people of Israel is to bring them back by rejecting their sinfulness and choosing the path of life. The path to Resurrection at Easter includes the Cross of Good Friday. Friar Jude notes the lack of clarity in Matthew about the end times.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist activist and teacher Joanna Macy who invites us to meditate on our intimate coexistence. Macy particularly challenges people of faith to act on the teachings of our spiritual founders.
Perhaps we all thought that Gautama [the Buddha] and Jesus were kidding or that their teachings were meant only for saints. But now comes the daunting revelation, that we are all called to be saints—not good necessarily, or pious, or devout—but saints in the sense of just caring for one another. One wonders what terrors this knowledge must hold that we fight it so and flee from it in such pain. Can our present capacity to extinguish all life tell us this? Can it force us to face the terrors of love? Can it be the occasion of our birth? In that possibility we take heart. Even in confusion and fear, with all our weariness and petty faults, we can let that awareness work in and through our lives. (Rohr, n.d.)
We understand, in our personal relationships, the consequence of neglect is loneliness and regret. We seek the guidance of the Spirit to be open to repentance and reconciliation as we endure difficulties in building up the Body Of Christ.
References
Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070822.html
Hosea, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/14?2
Matthew, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?16
Meditation on Hosea 14:2-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/08/434224/
Psalms, PSALM 51. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Part of a Living Web. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/part-of-a-living-web-2022-07-08/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Sheep in the Midst of Wolves - Wise and Innocent. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul8
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