Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
386

FIRST READING

HOS 11:1-4, 8E-9

Thus says the LORD:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
the farther they went from me,
Sacrificing to the Baals
and burning incense to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
who took them in my arms;
I drew them with human cords,
with bands of love;
I fostered them like one
who raises an infant to his cheeks;
Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,
they did not know that I was their healer.

My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.

PSALM

PS 80:2AC AND 3B, 15-16

Response: Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken.
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

GOSPEL

MT 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation:
‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts;
no sack for the journey, or a second tunic,
or sandals, or walking stick.
The laborer deserves his keep.
Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it,
and stay there until you leave.
As you enter a house, wish it peace.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it;
if not, let your peace return to you.
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your wordsC
go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment
than for that town.”

Daily Reflection

Hosea now shifts the comparison of God’s love for Israel to a father’s love for his ungrateful son! His words are an attempt to help Israel understand the tenderness and sensitivity with which God seeks to nurture them, if only they would let Him.

God’s desire is to lead Israel to live in a kingdom (not so much a physical place as much as a state of existence) where justice, peace and love prevail. And in today’s Gospel, this is what Jesus commissions His apostles to do. He sends them out on a mission to teach, heal and to do everything they can to liberate people so that they may live in justice, peace and love.

In both readings, we hear of love freely given in different ways with no strings attached. In fact, Jesus reminds the twelve that they are called to share freely as they have received freely.

I have freely received from God’s bounty. How much of this do I gladly share?