St. Maria Goretti, Virgin  & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Genesis 32:23-33

 He took them and sent them across the stream

And likewise everything he had.   And Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak.   When the man saw that he could not get the better of Jacob, he struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as he wrestled with him.

 The man said, “Let me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you have given me your blessing.”   The man then said, “What is your name?” “Ja­cob” was the reply.   He answered, “You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed.”

 Then Jacob asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.   So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, “I have seen God face to face and survived.”   The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip.

 That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob’s hip had been touched.

 

Ps 17:1b, 2-3, 6-7ab, 8b & 15

In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

Matthew 9:32-38

As they going away, some peo­ple brought to Jesus a man who was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”  But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”

 Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were ha­rassed and helpless like sheep without a she­pherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

When our burden is heavy, we cannot even speak to the Lord about it. We become dumb out of fear of God. That is why we need to be healed by God so that we can talk to him again. For the oppression we feel takes away our spontaneity before God. Just look at the dumb man in today's Gospel.

His speech is restored when Jesus heals him. The crowd is astonished. But not everyone is happy. The Pharisees take offense and accuse Jesus of being in league with the prince of demons. They are incapable of praising God for the miracle that happened right in front of them.

They become spiritually dumb in front of such wonder. And so, the most pitiful are not those with visible handicaps with those whose limitations are hidden and not seen. It is very hard to heal them unless they acknowledge their situation within.