Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as an Advocate.

As our counselor, the Spirit defends us, guides us into truth,

and empowers us to live faithfully according to God's will, helping

our understand and apply God's teachings.

    

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Hosea 14:2-10

Return to your God,

Yahweh, O Israel! Your sins have caused your downfall.

Return to Yahweh with humble words. Say to him,

"Oh, you who show compassion to the fatherless, forgive our debt, be appeased.

Instead of bulls and sacrifices, accept the praise from our lips.

Assyria will not save us: no longer shall we look for horses,

nor ever again shall we say 'Our gods' to the work of our hands."

 

I will heal their disloyalty and love them with all my heart, for my anger has turned from them.

I shall be like dew to Israel, like the lily will he blossom.

Like a cedar, he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow and spread.

His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance, like a Lebanon cedar.

They will dwell in my shade again, they will flourish like the grain, they will blossom like a vine,

and their fame will be like Lebanon wine. What would Ephraim do with idols,

 

when it is I who hear and make him prosper? I am like an ever-green cypress tree;

all your fruitfulness comes from me.Who is wise enough to grasp all this?

Who is discerning and will understand? Straight

are the ways of Yahweh: the just walk in them, but the sinners stumble.

 

Ps 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-13, 14, 17

My mouth will declare your praise.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 10:16-23

Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves.

You must be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts,

and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers

and kings because of me, so that you may witness to them and the pagans.

 

But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say,

or how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say.

For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you.

Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against

 

their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me,

but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town,

flee to the next. I tell you the truth, you will not have passed

through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

The Holy Spirit will be our advocate.

It is often said that Christianity is a religion of peace, a theme frequently highlighted by

Jesus in the Gospel with expressions such as "Peace be with you" and "Peace be upon you."

Each of us has our own interpretation of what Christian peace entails. However, today's Gospel presents

a different dimension of Christianity and what it means to be a disciple.

 

Courage stands in opposition to fear. While fear is a natural human reaction to doubt and uncertainty,

we navigate our faith journey where Christian values often clash with the world's values.

This is where courage becomes essential. As Christians,

we are called to respond to worldly values with the principles of the Gospel.

 

Jesus reassures us that the Holy Spirit will be our advocate in times of questioning.

The important question we must ask ourselves is: How willing are we to cooperate

with the Holy Spirit when our Christian values are challenged? How courageous are we

in standing up for the truth of the Gospel in today's world?