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July 10, 2018

In the first reading Hosea faults the kings who do not come from God and who do not worship the true God.

In the Gospel reading we see Jesus curing a man unable to speak because he was possessed by an evil spirit. We see Jesus preaching the Good News; we see Jesus moved with pity for the crowds for they were “harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.”

Like Jesus who healed the sick and possessed, we are called to help cure the world of its sicknesses. We are called to help those in need. As in the time of Jesus, sickness and pain, hunger and war and exploitation of the human person are signs of sickness in our hearts, signs of our sinfulness. We need good will and the help of God’s grace to restore humans to their dignity as children of God.

We hear Jesus telling his disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to gather his harvest. We make the same prayer today.

Lord, grant us the grace to be your instruments for the healing of your people. Send forth your Spirit to send and empower more workers to gather the harvest for your kingdom.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 4

<< Tuesday, July 10, 2018 >>

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13
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Psalm 115:3-10

Matthew 9:32-38
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SPIRITUAL LARYNGITIS

"Beg the harvest Master to send out laborers to gather His harvest." �Matthew 9:37-38

In this part of Matthew's gospel, Jesus has been on a healing-deliverance tour. He has lifted up the paralyzed, healed the hemorrhaging woman, raised up the dead, and cured the blind (Mt 9:1ff). Finally, Jesus expelled a demon from the mute man, and the man began to speak (Mt 9:33). Matthew recounts this miracle last to emphasize it. "The harvest is good but laborers are scarce" (Mt 9:37). There are few to proclaim the good news of the kingdom (Mt 9:35). The devil's got our tongues; so the sheep continue to lie prostrate from exhaustion (Mt 9:36).

We must be delivered; we must speak up for Jesus. We must yield our tongues to the Holy Spirit rather than to the evil spirit. We are stricken with selective muteness. We can talk about everything under the sun, but when it comes to Jesus we become mute. We have rationalized this condition, saying we are being careful not to impose our religious beliefs on others. However, we're not talking about religious beliefs; we're talking about Jesus. When we love someone, especially Jesus, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:7, 16), we should be free to tell the world.

Jesus commands: "Do not let them intimidate you. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not become known. What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops" (Mt 10:26-27).

Prayer: Jesus, be Lord of my voice. May I never be ashamed of You. May I not give in to fear.

Promise: "Jesus continued His tour of all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues, He proclaimed the good news of God's reign, and He cured every sickness and disease." —Mt 9:35

Praise: Jack, suffering from cancer, called it a blessing to be able to place his sufferings on the cross with Jesus.