The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with intimacy and mission to present the Way of fullness of life to all we encounter in our environment.
The reading from the Prophet Hosea, proclaims God’s Compassion despite Israel’s ingratitude.
* [11:1–3] After the image of husband-wife (chaps. 1–3), Hosea uses the image of parent-child (Ex 4:22; Is 1:2; Jer 3:19).
* [11:1] Out of Egypt: Hosea dates the real beginning of Israel from the time of the exodus. Mt 2:15 applies this text to the return of Jesus from Egypt.
* [11:4] I drew them…with bands of love: perhaps a reversal of the yoke imagery of the previous chapter, i.e., not forcing them like draft animals, but drawing them with kindness and affection.
* [11:8] Admah…Zeboiim: cities in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn 14:2, 8) and destroyed with them (Gn 19:24–25; Dt 29:22). (Hosea, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 80 is a prayer for Israel’s Restoration.
* [Psalm 80] A community lament in time of military defeat. Using the familiar image of Israel as a vineyard, the people complain that God has broken down the wall protecting the once splendid vine brought from Egypt (Ps 80:9–14). They pray that God will again turn to them and use the Davidic king to lead them to victory (Ps 80:15–19). (Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew describes the Commissioning of the Twelve.
* [10:8–11] The Twelve have received their own call and mission through God’s gift, and the benefits they confer are likewise to be given freely. They are not to take with them money, provisions, or unnecessary clothing; their lodging and food will be provided by those who receive them.
* [10:13] The greeting of peace is conceived of not merely as a salutation but as an effective word. If it finds no worthy recipient, it will return to the speaker.
* [10:14] Shake the dust from your feet: this gesture indicates a complete disassociation from such unbelievers. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tamora Whitney comments that the Gospel gives the first rules for the holy life. The disciples are told to go out and share the word. They are to tell the people that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
This is the basis of the church, the basis that Benedict built on. These are the beginnings that we should all remember even today. We should follow this example and help others because it is the right and appropriate thing to do, not to get rich, but to help others and be in community so the peace of the Lord can come upon us. (Whitney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The gift of power to reign with the Lord,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"All the power possessed by the Lord is bestowed upon the apostles! Those who were prefigured in the image and likeness of God in Adam have now received the perfect image and likeness of Christ. They have been given powers in no way different from those of the Lord. Those once earthbound now become heaven-centered. They will proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, that the image and likeness of God are now appropriated in the company of truth, so that all the holy ones who have been made heirs of heaven may reign with the Lord. Let them cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out devils. Whatever impairment Adam's body had incurred from being goaded on by Satan, let the apostles wipe away through their sharing in the Lord's power. And that they may fully obtain the likeness of God according to the prophecy in Genesis, they are ordered to give freely what they freely have received (Matthew 10:8). Thus a gift freely bestowed should be freely dispensed." (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 10.4) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 10:7-15 comments that the ministers of this heavenly kingdom pay special attention to the weak. They seek out people who are sick, outcast, and oppressed by evil spirits, and they offer them healing, love, and freedom. Jesus is bringing in a new kind of kingdom!
Today Jesus is still sending out his servants who proclaim the same kingdom and offer the same grace and power that flow from Christ himself. He comes to you through the Church and her ministers. He comes to you in the life-changing words of Scripture and the grace of the sacraments. And he comes through the kind deeds and prayers of ordinary disciples. Do not hide your sin or weakness, your disillusionment or sickness, but run to meet Jesus! In him you will find mercy, healing, and forgiveness.
The kingdom is here! (Meditation on Matthew 10:7-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how Hosea shifts from the imagery suggested by his unfaithful wife Gomer, to the image of God as parent to the child Israel. God does not reject us: even those we may consider to be condemned. Friar Jude reminds us that transformation happens in God’s time and we are responsible for the effort as declared in the commission to the Apostles.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how contemplation sustains our transformation. Brian McLaren suggests a contemplative practice focused on being “here” with God.
Here is the simple word by which we show up, respond to the one calling our name. Here is the way we name where we are—pleasant or unpleasant, desired or not—and declare ourselves present to God’s presence….
The simple word here … subverts the assumption that we have God named, figured out, and properly “targeted.” Instead, it places us out in the woods, so to speak, calling out so that we can be found by the one seeking us: “Here I am, in the presence of a mystery. Here I am, in the presence of a Presence who transcends, surpasses, overflows, and exceeds every attempt at definition, description, and even conception. Here you are, whoever you are…. May the real I and the real you become present to one another here and now.” (Rohr, n.d.)
We are sometimes deluded that the final word has been spoken in our relationships with God and others, but the Spirit invites us to resume the mission of bringing Christ in our word and action to the events of our daily life and expect the transformation to be revealed.
References
Hosea, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/11?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?7
Meditation on Matthew 10:7-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/11/1020631/
Psalms, PSALM 80 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/80?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Right Here, Right Now. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/right-here-right-now/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Freely Have You Received - Freely Give. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul11
Whitney, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071124.htm
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