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In Hosea the love of Yahweh for Israel is very much like the love of Christ the bridegroom for the Church His bride. In today's first reading, Hosea denounces the human folly of the Israelites (the bride) and the moral, religious and political decay arising from this folly which outraged the righteousness of God (the bridegroom).
Christ in Matthew's Gospel is a new Moses come with God's love to deliver Israel from bondage into the promised land.
Matthew's account of the healing of the dumb demoniac brings to a close the narrative section of his Gospel where he shows how the ever-compassionate Jesus "took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us" (Is. 53:4) as quoted in Matthew 8:17. He ends these healing accounts by summarizing Jesus' teaching, proclaiming of the Good News and healing throughout the land. This leads us to realise that people everywhere are in need of healing, both in mind and body, to be spiritually uplifted into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, labourers for the Kingdom are needed, and Jesus' appeal here ties in with the following section of Matthew's Gospel - the missionary vocation of the Church.
Lord, help us to be sincere labourers for Christ so we can share in His mission of bringing God's love and mercy to all. Amen.
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DAILY OFFERING
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Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That all those who are able to benefit from a holiday period may be helped during their vacation to rediscover in God their inner harmony and to open themselves to the love of human beings.
Elaboration
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