TUESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Mt 9:32-38 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." (Mt 9:37-38)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Book of Hosea

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew

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.”

TUESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Mt 9:32-38

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God tells of Jesus exorcising a man who was possessed by a mute demon.

What is a mute demon? What is a possessed demon? How many types of demons are there in the world today?

In reply, there are many types of demons,

Impossible to determine whether the quantity is great or small regardless of its number.

Where do these kinds of demons come from? Demons are formed when people sell their souls to Satan, collaborating with Satan, and listening to Satan's instigation against God.

From there, different types of demons appear and that soul is controlled and bound by Satan.

Jesus' exorcism was the starting point for His apostles to follow. The apostles continued the work of Jesus Christ by exorcising demons and healing the sick and sinners. They help remove the chains that Satan binds on human souls and bodies, helping people to be healthy in both souls and bodies.

The Word of God today reveals that with the authority and power of God, Jesus Christ only had to speak one word and the mute demon would be cast out of the patient. And when the demon left the mute person, the patient returned to a normal, healthy person like God created from the beginning. The mute person was able to speak and follow God's commands.

Likewise, today, if someone's soul and body are controlled and bound by Satan, without God removing the chains that bind Satan, then that person's soul and body will easily be tempted by Satan and follow their cunning and deceitful temptations.

Therefore, God calls His children to run to Him and unite closely with Him through constant prayer and self-sacrifice, live according to God's teachings, then He will help save us from the bondage of Satan that binds our bodies and souls. We will return to being completely healthy in soul and body and living happily with God.

Today, God also uses the people He chooses, the apostles, as His instruments to continue the mission of Jesus Christ which is preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven and calling people to repentance, exorcising demons, and healing the sick and sinners.

Therefore, all those who believe and pray to God through the intermediary of His apostles, which are His chosen people, will be healed by God in soul as well as in body. He will expel Satan who is holding, controlling, and binding that person's soul and body. Whoever believes in the authority and power of God demonstrated in His apostles, then that person will be saved by God Himself and freed from the chains that Satan is binding. When the binding rope is untied, that person's soul and body will be at peace and happy in the loving arms of God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.