Celebración de la palabra

Tuesday July 7

Tuesday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time

SHEEP WITHOUT SHEPHERDS

Introduction

The people of God in the OT deserted God for idols – false gods, sham gods of their own making. They tried to fashion a god in their own image and likeness. Are we Christians free from idolatry? We make our own idols and bend our knees to them – some in the crude way: God is for Sundays; power, money, the horoscope for weekdays, or drugs and escapists pleasure; others in a milder way, but perhaps equally destructive of people and of God in us: efficiency, timesaving and speed, mechanization of life, comfort. Even the pious person may have his little idols: his devotions, his institutions, his intolerance, and his tendency to turn laws and authority into absolutes. Who is our God?
Jesus was spreading his message of good news in word and deed. Today he asks us that there may be among us many who hear his invitation to continue his work and to bring his liberating compassion to the people of our day. At least all of us should pray for such messengers, for the need is urgent.

Opening Prayer

Our God with a heart,
in your Son Jesus Christ you have shown us
your compassion for all that is weak
Give us shepherds who care for your people
and nourish them with faith and trust in you
and with an unselfish love
that knows how to serve
even without waiting for gratitude.
Let it be the kind of gratuitous love
that you have shown us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading 1 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.

Responsorial Psalm 115:3-4, 5-6, 7AB-8, 9-10

R. (9a) The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them.
R. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia JN 10:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

Commentary

Nothing had greater importance in Israelite life than the authentic worship of Yahweh, and yet the Israelites were continually falling short in this area. Not only did Israel establish its own monarchy, but Samaria became a center of illicit worship. Two calves of gold, set up in the early years of the northern monarchy, were created to offset Jerusalem as the center of worship.
The altars that had been erected in the northern kingdom became places of sin. Hosea shows deep concern for the waywardness of his people and assures them that punishment for sin will not be delayed. Jesus’ frontal attack on evil appears today in his exorcisms and healings. The contrast is striking. The Israelites stand in opposition to the God who had saved them. Jesus, the agent of forgiveness, brings healing and God’s gentleness to troubled souls. This is at the very heart of Christian ministry—concern for the suffering, outreach to the needy.
Christ prays today for laborers for the harvest. The opportunities are countless, but it takes willing collaborators to bring Christ to others. Each of us has a distinct Christian calling to bring Christ to the world. The need has never been greater than it is today. Ask yourself, In what way can I contribute to the work of the harvest?

Points to Ponder

Human disregard for God’s love
Jesus’ way of confronting evil
My contribution to the harvest

Intercessions

– For the Church, the People of God, that the Lord may give us shepherds who reconcile and animate with fairness and love, we pray:
– For all our Christian communities, that we may trust and support our pastors, dialogue with them and share their burdens, we pray:
– For all of us, that Christ’s care for us may inspire us to nourish one another with words of encouragement and hope and deeds of support, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Tender and compassionate God,
you give us food and drink
to sustain us on the road of life.
See how many people today
are needy and rudderless
and give them shepherds to guide them in life,
to nourish them with your living word
and with the food of lasting life,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
your Son Jesus still goes around today
to our cities and towns far and near.
Let his word be to all of us
good news of liberation
from the diseases of our hearts and bodies
and make us pass on this message
to the people around us,
at least by the way we live it.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Let us be and proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom on earth by our goodness and compassion. May almighty God bless you for this task, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.