DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

JULY 10, 2024

WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

(FEAST - ST. VERONICA GIULIANI, VIRGIN)

FIRST READING

HOSEA 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 OR (2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-11, 16-17)

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars. 2 Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars. 3 For now they will say: "We have no king, for we fear not the LORD, and a king, what could he do for us?" 7 Sama'ria's king shall perish, like a chip on the face of the waters. 8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall upon us. 12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain salvation upon you.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 104(105):2-7 OR (PSALMS 59:2, 10, 17-18)

Response: Seek always the face of the Lord.
Or
R. Alleluia.

Sing to him, sing praises to him,
tell of all his wonderful works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
Or
R. Alleluia.

Seek the LORD and his strength,
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wonderful works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
Or
R. Alleluia.

O offspring of Abraham his servant,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

R. Seek always the face of the Lord.
Or
R. Alleluia.
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GOSPEL

Jesus gives his disciples authority to heal and set free

MATTHEW 10:1-7 OR (MATTHEW 16:24-27)

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Jesus empowers his disciples to act in his name, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

" If the Spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified, how then did the disciples cast out the unclean spirits? They did this by his own command, by the Sons authority. Note the careful timing of their mission. They were not sent out at the beginning of their walk with him. They were not sent out until they had sufficiently benefited by following him daily. It was only after they had seen the dead raised, the sea rebuked, devils expelled, the legs of a paralytic brought to life, sins remitted, lepers cleansed, and had received a sufficient proof of his power both by deeds and words - only then did he send them out. And he did not send them out unprepared to do dangerous deeds, for as yet there was no danger in Palestine. They had only to stand against verbal abuse. However, Jesus still warned them of larger perils to come, preparing them for what was future."

(excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 32.3)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.