THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 14^th Week in Ordinary time, 2022

Hos 10:1-3.7-8.12

Ps

Matt 10:1-7

Reap the fruit of Mercy

Dear friends in Christ, the whole essence of a farmer working hard to till the ground, plant the crops and care for the farm is to have a good harvest at the season. The reaping season differentiates a successful farmer from a failed farmer for the year. Sometimes, a good season is determined right from the beginning of the planting period because if proper preparations are not made one may not expect too much from the farm and if the right crops the particular farmland can support are not the ones sown, it is difficult to expect a good harvest.

Today's first reading (Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12) continues the story of the prophet who described the relationship with God in a language of marital love. This love is however one sided because while God has been faithful to the marriage covenant, his people have failed to keep their own part of the contract. The prophet describes the success of Israel in the language of a farmland, the success however led to the worship of other gods, "Israel was a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more it's fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars." Success in the land, led to the worship of other gods, particularly the God of fertility--Baal. The Jews copied the Canaanites and set up shrines to the gods. The mountain heights became dotted with craven images and sometimes just ordinary pillars to represent a god. The prophets consistently forbade the worship of these idols and preached for their destruction. But because of the prosperity in the land the people failed to listen, they attributed the glory to Baal. They became so bold to despise God saying, "We have no King, for we fear not the Lord, and a King, what could he do for us?" There are such people in our time who by their actions ask, "Are we not doing well without going to church, what more can God do for us?" Hosea pronounces punishment for those who are unrepentant, "Samaria's king shall perish, like a chimp on the face of the waters...Thorns and thistles shall grow up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, cover us, and to the hills, fall upon us." It will be a time of great distress as everyone will run for cover. However, even when sin increases, the door of mercy opens wider but all for a time; so the prophet calls, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain salvation upon you." The mercy of God is ever abundant for those who are willing to sow righteousness.

In the gospel of today (Matthew 10:1-7) Jesus told his Apostles "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The Lord's mercy extends to you and to me. There is always that great opportunity to turn back from sin and do what is right, if only you recognise how much you’re loved by God.

Let us pray: Lord, we turn to you in our weakness, lift us up by your strength. Amen. 

+Remain blessed