14TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 9:32-38) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“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.” (Mt 9:36)

FIRST READING - 32:23-33

A reading from the Book of Genesis

In the course of the night, Jacob arose, took his two wives,

with the two maidservants and his eleven children,

and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

After he had taken them across the stream

and had brought over all his possessions,

Jacob was left there alone.

Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.

When the man saw that he could not prevail over him,

he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket,

so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled.

The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”

The man asked, “What is your name?”

He answered, “Jacob.”

Then the man said,

“You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,

because you have contended with divine and human beings

and have prevailed.”

Jacob then asked him, “Do tell me your name, please.”

He answered, “Why should you want to know my name?”

With that, he bade him farewell.

Jacob named the place Peniel,

“Because I have seen God face to face,” he said,

“yet my life has been spared.”

At sunrise, as he left Penuel,

Jacob limped along because of his hip.

That is why, to this day, the children of Israel do not eat

the sciatic muscle that is on the hip socket,

inasmuch as Jacob’s hip socket was struck at the sciatic muscle.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 9:32-38

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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.”

14TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 9:32-38)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God speaks to us about Jesus exorcising a demon that had caused a man to be mute.

What is a mute demon? What is demon possession? How many types of demons exist in the world today?

The answer is:

There are many types of demons, regardless of quantity. Where do these types of demons come from? Demons are formed when people sell their souls to Satan, collaborate with him, or listen to his instigations against God. From this, various types of demons emerge, and the soul becomes controlled and bound by Satan.

Jesus’ act of exorcism marked the beginning of the work that His apostles would later continue. The apostles carried on the mission of Jesus Christ: casting out demons, healing the sick, and ministering to sinners. They helped break the chains with which Satan had bound people's souls and bodies-bring healing and restoration to both body and spirit.

Today's Word of God shows that, with the power and authority of God, Jesus Christ only had to speak a single word, and the mute demon was forced to leave the afflicted person.

When the demon left, the man was restored to health just as God had originally created him. The mute man was able to speak and follow God's commands.

Today, if a person’s soul and body are controlled and bound by Satan, and God does not release them from those chains, that person can easily be led astray by Satan’s temptations and fall into his cunning and deceitful traps. Therefore, God calls His children to run to Him and remain closely united with Him through constant prayer, sacrifice, and by living according to His teachings. When they do this, God will help free them from the bondage of Satan, who seeks to enslave both body and soul.

They will be restored healthily in both soul and body—and live joyfully in communion with God.

Today, God continues to use His chosen apostles - His instruments - to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ: to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, to call people to repentance, to cast out demons, and to heal the sick and sinners.

Therefore, all who believe and pray to God through His chosen apostles will be healed by God both in soul and body. He will drive out Satan, who holds, controls, and binds that person’s soul and body.

Whoever believes in the power and authority of God manifested through His apostles will be saved by God Himself. They will be freed from the chains with which Satan has bound them. And once those chains are broken, that person’s soul and body will find peace and joy in the loving arms of God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.