God’s kindness and affection envelops around us all through our life.

It is 9th July 2020. We celebrate the memorial of Sts. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, and Companions, martyrs.
The readings are from Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9; and the Gospel from Matthew 10:7-15.
We have received more enough to give. Except sin, selfishness, and shame, we need to be prepared enough to share.
The first reading highlights the depth of God’s love for humanity. The measure of God’s love is like parent-child bonding and ever-nourishing affection even when we have not responded to the level we are expected of. God demonstrates unfailing love constantly even though we forget and take God for granted at times. No matter what, God will not give up on us for any reason. God’s kindness and affection envelops around us all through our life.
Our parents love us more than the way we love them. We can never repay them enough. Some of us have issues with them but our parents always have concerns for us. “Though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.” (Hos.11:4). Their style could be evaluated and commented upon by us as we have matured enough to look back the way we were brought up. But none of us have the resources to question their noble intentions and love that is inviolable. Most of us are spoiled and pampered children who do not notice the unconditional love our parents.
We have nothing to impress God except through our love, mercy, and compassion we show to one another. God remembers and celebrates every state of our life-development and never hesitates to reprimand in every unheeded and deviant choices we make. God’s corrections are subtle than the surplus love of God. Our happiness cannot happen without due acknowledgement of God’s love for us.
Our mindfulness and sensitivity to the needs of the others is that we all need during this most challenging time of humanity all around.
The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.” (Ps.80:4)
Jesus continues to instruct the missionary disciples to be fruitful. Providence of God takes care of everything. Jesus assures all the missionary disciples not to worry about money, provisions, unnecessary clothing, lodging and food. The responsibility to preach the Word of God depends on our generosity not on the receptivity of the believers. Greetings of peace is not mere a salutation word rather it is the resonance of life of heart. Peace and love cannot be shared by us when we ourselves are not at peace and love one another. When our proclamation is genuine and sincere, even if no one is prepared to accept, it returns to us intact. We are reminded by the Lord not to carry the dust of our feet around that we accumulated from a place of rejection, and hurtful conditions. We all invited to be the missionaries with unconditional love. May the Lord help us to recover from our own fallenness to reach out to those in need of healing, hope, and love. Have a lovely day. God bless you.