THOSE WHO ENDURE…

Hosea 14:2-9 

2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips.3 Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In thee the orphan finds mercy.”4 I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.5 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, he shall strike root as the poplar;6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress, from me comes your fruit.9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Matthew 10:16-23 

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING is a prayer of a repentant sinner, who upon reflection realized that he or she is an orphan; cut off from the mercy of God, brought about by pride—self adoration— the allure to worship the false self.

Hosea picture God as a concerned forgiving Father, who is overly eager to receive those who have wisely discerned that they desire to walk away from sin and submit themselves to His ways. 

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord is candid and up front with His desciples, making sure that they are not deluded, hoodwinked or under the false impression, that theirs will be a blissful life of prosperity! To live in Christ is to be exposed to wolves, trails, interogation and hateful family member whistle blowers, who shall throw the faithful upright beleiver to the wolves.

Our Lords teaching is antithetical to preachers whose sermons are couched in the false belief, that they shall receive everything that their hearts desire, if only they have a strong faith! Not so! Even if we have faith the size of a mustart seed,we are called to be joyful and not give up, but to endure and dwell beneath the shadow of God, knowing that our suffering and poverty is not in vain and that we shall be delivered! 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 51:2,3-4,8-9,12-14,17

2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips.3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
8 Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days