The Word today, W14B

July 08 - July 13, 2024

Monday 08 July

St Kilian, bishop and martyr

Hosea 2:16, 17-18, 21-22 Until Thursday, we read from the prophet Hosea, known for his use of marriage as a symbol of God’s love for his people. This emerges rather touchingly in today’s reading.

Matthew 9:18-26 This is Matthew’s brisk telling of a story familiar from Mark. The “sandwich” technique here creates suspense: he can heal the sick, but can he raise the dead?

Tuesday 09 July

St Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions, martyrs

Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 The worship of idols was a constant threat in the ancient world. Idols were more tangible and visible. In case we dismiss the risk too readily, it may help to remember the words of our Lord: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Matthew 9:32-37 A sinister note is registered in the first paragraph of this reading. After that, Jesus the healer brings people God’s compassion.

Wednesday 10 July

Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 This plaintive text is very powerful. It begins with the traditional image of the vine and goes on to ask penetrating questions. The final paragraph surely speaks today: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you.

Matthew 10:1-7 The Twelve were a symbol of Jesus’ mission to Israel, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This focus of Jesus ministry becomes really clear in the last paragraph.

Thursday 11 July

St Benedict, abbot, co-patron of Europe

Proverbs 2:1-9 For the feast, we interrupt the readings from Hosea and read from Proverbs. Where can we find wisdom, truth, virtue, justice, understanding and fear of the Lord? According to Proverbs—and later according to St Benedict and many other holy men and women—these things are to be found by taking the Word of the Lord to heart.

Matthew 19:27-29 The Gospel—chosen for the feast—is really about those who have followed Jesus in leaving behind all “sensible”, “normal” forms of security and happiness for the sake of the Good News.

Friday 12 July

Hosea 14:2-10 This is a great invitation to conversion of heart. The first part is the call to come back to the Lord. The second part spell out the super-generous response of God to our response to him.

Matthew 10:16-23 Jesus was not naive. Sending out the Twelve was sending them into danger. Probably we over hear some of the experiences of the later church in the details, as there is no evidence that these things took place during the ministry of Jesus.

Saturday 13 July

St Henry of Bavaria

Isaiah 6:1-8 Beginning today, we have a week of readings from Isaiah. To start, the lectionary offers us the foundational vision of the prophet, a fabulous vision of the holiness of God, both awesome and alluring. You may recognise words we say at every Mass.

Matthew 10:24-33 Under the general heading of the mission discourse, disparate sayings are offered, reflecting a variety of concerns. Sometimes, the word is threatening; other times, it is consoling. A sense of anxious urgency hangs over the whole teaching.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024c, July 7). Fourteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070724.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/