Daily Readings Reflection for 7/07/10

Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Scripture: July 7, Lectionary # 385. Hosea 10:1-3,7-8, 12. Psalm 105:
2-3,4-5,6-7. Matthew 10: 1-7:

Reading and praying with the Scriptures is not always and easy spiritual
exercise. It takes some discipline on our part in giving it some
time--fixed time. Often we are tired, or we do not pay attention to what
is being read or what we ourselves are reading in Scripture. Tiredness
does not help us to meditate on the word of God. We want to do this but we
simply are limited on certain days or maybe even every day. Contextual
reading is important if we wish to understand the text that we have read in
the liturgy. One clue for today's readings is that they make sense to us
as we come to the final part of them. Their tone and message is clearly
put before us and we see them as creative helps and redemptive uplifts for
our meditation or pondering. For example, at the end of Hosea's passage for
today we read the following, "Break up for yourselves a new field,for it is
time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain justice upon you." That field
is the Scriptures and the raining down is God's inspiration for us this
day.

Jesus, at the very end of our Gospel reading makes the all important
announcement: "The reign (kingdom, realm of God) of God is at hand. " Mark
used this as the very first pronouncement in his Gospel from the lips of
Jesus. Here we have Matthew doing the same with the live voice of Jesus
coming through these sacred texts: the kingdom of God is here; it is within
you. Seek first the kingdom of God. What about the preceding naming of the
apostles including the name of Matthew? We can use this call as our own
summons to keep the message and mission of Jesus alive in our time. Just
put your name among them and continue what they will do once Jesus has
risen from the dead and left the mission in their hands. Through our
baptismal commitment and the calling we now have we too are able to
interact with others and bring the good news to them. We have identified
ourselves with Christ's saving mysteries through Baptism. We have been
named in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Our own
prayer, work, hobbies, activities, relationships, are part of the story we
share with Jesus. We too are to be motivated and motivate others with the
announcement: "The Kingdom of God is at hand." Amen.