Daily Readings for July 13, 2018

1st READING

All God asks of us is repentance – the desire to reform our lives and surrender it to His merciful love. As we re ect on today’s reading from Hosea, let us ask the Spirit to lead us more deeply in a spirit of repentance and conversion. Let us identify the areas of our lives that need change and reform them in God’s love.

Hosea 14:2-10

2 Thus says the Lord: Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3 Take with you words, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. 4 Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount. We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands for in you the orphan nds compassion. 5 I will heal their defection,” says the Lord, “I will love them freely for my wrath is turned away from them. 6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 8 Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain. They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree” and because of me you bear fruit! 10 Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

P S A L M 

Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14, 17

R: My mouth will declare your praise.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 6 [8] Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom. 7 [9] Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be puri ed; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R) 

GOSPEL 

Jesus reminds us often in the Scriptures that life as His disciple will be like His own life of service, su ering, death, and resurrection. Resurrection is encouraging; service for others is doable. But suffering and death are also inevitable. Su ering and death do not come from God — these are consequences of our sins. If we persevere, God will give us the gift of the resurrection. And that makes all di culties worth it.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth and remind you of all I told you.

Matthew 10:16-23

16 Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 20 For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of my name but whoever endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, ee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”