14th Week in the Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Hos 8:4-7, 11-13
Thus says the LORD: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold, they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? The work of an artisan, no god at all, destined for the flames such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger’s. Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.
Gospel: Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so, ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST: Jesus drove out the demons, cured the sick, raised the dead to life and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He understood the plight of the ordinary people. They were thirsting for the Word of God. They did not have any one to give them hope and explain to them the values of the Kingdom of God. It is the duty of every Christian to proclaim the good news first by their lives. When he told his disciples, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few; so, ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”, he underlined the difficult mission of the disciples of Christ. It requires sacrifices and self-denial imitating Christ all along (alter Christus). The disciples of Christ live to glorify God. Bearing much fruit to a productive life by bringing the good news of salvation to others.
Prayer: We pray through the intercession of our Blessed Mother for good and numerous vocations to all forms of consecrated life in the Church.
DAILY GOSPEL 