CatholicJules.net

As a father of three, two boys and a girl. I’ve had to discipline my children from time to time over the years. I am not proud to say that I have dealt rather harshly with the boys on some of those occasions. Although I definitively could have handled the situation better, it was still purely out of love for them that I took action. I did not want any of them to go wayward and land themselves in situations which my affect their future.

The first reading shows us a glimpse into God our Father’s heart. While I can relate being a father myself, at the same time I am far from able to conceive the depth of His love. How often have we betrayed Him and been disobedient; yet in His mercy and love He waits patiently to turn back to Him. It is therefore to our own detriment if we mistakenly think that we have all the time in the world to have a change of heart. For it is in our final moment that our fate is sealed, our free will in rejecting Him has caused our eternal separation or eternal death.

Let us strive by our Lord’s grace to lead as many souls, as and while we can, into His Kingdom. Amen

First reading

Hosea 11:1-4,8-9 ·I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroyThus says the Lord:When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols.I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood 0that I was the one looking after them. I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love.I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek; stooping down to him I gave him his food.Ephraim, how could I part with you?Israel, how could I give you up?How could I treat you like Admah, or deal with you like Zeboiim?My heart recoils from it, my whole being trembles at the thought.I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

Gospel

Matthew 10:7-15You received without charge: give without chargeJesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep. ‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you. And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly, on the day of Judgement it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrah as with that town.’