St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, priest

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

 Without my approval they

Set up kings and without my blessing appointed leaders. With their silver and gold they fashioned idols to their own ruin.

 To me, Samaria, your calf is loathsome and my anger blazes against you. How long will you remain defiled?  The calf is yours, Israel, a craftsman has made it; it is not God and will be broken into pieces.   As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Like the erect ear of corn they will bear no grain and produce no flour, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

 Ephraim built many altars but his altars made him more guilty.   I wrote out for him the numerous precepts of my Law, but they look on them as coming from foreigners.

 They offer sacrifices to me because they are those who eat the meat, but Yahweh does not accept their sacrifices for he is mindful of their sin and remembers their wickedness. They will return to Egypt.

 

Ps 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab-8, 9-10

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 9:32-38

As they were going away,some peo­ple brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon.   When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (  But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”)

 Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease.   When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were ha­rassed and helpless like sheep without a she­pherd.   Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few.   Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Unbelief

A story goes thus about a boss who found his junior employee looking tired and weak. With great concern, he asked his subordinate: “What happened to you? You look so worn out!” The employee answered:” I can tell you, but you won’t believe it, sir.” The boss said, “Why do you say that? Of course, I will believe you!” The employee said:” Sir, I am worn out because I have been working too hard on my job.” And the boss said, incredulously: “Come on, I don’t believe you.”

 

The Pharisees remind us of this boss. They have their conclusions already. Whatever miracles Jesus works, they refuse to believe; and they would even invent reasons not to believe, including attributing his powers to collusion with the devil. Do we sometimes approach God, as well as the people in our lives, with this registered trademark of pre-set un-beliefs?

 

 

 

“What good thing could God deny us When He is the one who invites us to ask?”       

        

                                                                                                                        〜〜〜 ST. ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA 〜〜〜