Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety. – Hosea 10:12

         My massage therapist can remove any twisted or pinched nerve that is causing pain in any part of the body. She can relieve frozen shoulders and painful backs easily. She’s so in-demand that other people are willing to pay her double or triple her usual rate just to be accommodated. If she will massage all the people seeking her out, she can easily earn as much, or maybe even more than a bank executive! She is the only one in her family who didn’t finish school while all her siblings are college graduates. Yet, she is the only one who is living comfortably and has her own house. She supports her parents because all her other siblings don’t want to send money. Because of her generosity, money chases her constantly. She never fails to give back the glory to God for her gift of touch and for the blessings she receives from her clients, who consider her as part of their family already.

      When money is your god, you will constantly chase it and it will always elude you. It will be like chasing smoke on a sunny and windy day. But when you sow love or charity, even if you give all you have, you will never be depleted because our God will always cause His blessing to rain upon you wherever you go. Ronna Singson-Ledesma (ronna_ledesma@yahoo.com.ph)

Reflection: “Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap.” (Luke 6:38)

St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr, pray for us.

Israel built altars and worshiped other gods. This was very displeasing to God. It was a great sign of Israel’s betrayal. God created Israel and brought the Israelites out of Egypt by performing many miracles. He has given Israel the Promised Land and the kings the people demanded. And now they turn from Him to worship false gods.

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine whose fruit matches its growth. The more abundant his fruit, the more altars he built; The more productive his land, the more sacred pillars he set up. 2 Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt; God shall break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars. 3If they would say, “We have no king.” Since they do not fear the Lord, what can the king do for them? 7 The king of Samaria shall disappear, like foam upon the waters. 8 The high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars. Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall upon us!” 12 “Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; Break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain down justice upon you.”

Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Seek always the face of the Lord.

2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! (R) 4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. 5 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R)

We have been given authority to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. This is part of the commissioning of the sacrament of baptism. Unfortunately, many people never get to share the Gospel with others. Let us resolve not be numbered among them. Proclaiming the Gospel is a privilege and we will find joy in this service.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.

Matthew 10:1-7

1 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 2 The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; 4 Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 5 Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

think: We have all been given authority to proclaim the Good News of Jesus.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 17-18 

THE TWELVE “FAILURES”

Have you ever asked yourself: Where is the Good News in this boring list of names of the Apostles? I have, and so have many others. Actually I came to realize that a look at this list is not boring but quite interesting. Have you realized that all the Apostles chosen by Jesus after prayer are failures? Have you realized that most of them were simple, uneducated, probably illiterate fishermen? Peter the “Rock” denied Jesus, and not only once but three times; Judas betrayed Jesus. There was Matthew, a corrupt tax collector and one who belonged to the Zealot party, a band of men who ambushed Romans; John and James had to be scolded by Jesus, and in the end, when He needed them most to prevent His arrest, they all ran away.

       There are two Good News here. One is that, in the end, all of them, except Judas, came up to the expectations of Jesus. The Lord was very different from us. We judge a person from what we see right now; Jesus tried to see the good that would come out in the person over the years in His company. We easily criticize people when we see them doing something wrong, behaving badly, or hurting us with words or attitudes. Our problem here is we forget that they can and probably will change.

       Another Good News is that God does not favor the rich, the highly educated ones, or those who have positions in the government or community. God’s love embraces all, especially those whom society puts aside.

       If somebody ignores or belittles you because you come from a lower level of society, rejoice, for God has chosen you as His child and is with you in a very special way. He loves you tremendously and knows that one day you, like the simple Apostles, will come up to His expectations. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you ever doubted God’s love for you because you are not as rich, clever and educated as others are?

Lord, thank You for the Good News You revealed to me through the life of the Apostles. Strengthen me so that I may not disappoint You but come up to Your expectations. Amen.