Peace and blessings to you all! I am so glad you’ve joined me today as we reflect on the powerful Word of God for Wednesday, July 8, 2026. We find ourselves in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time, a season where we are invited to look at the "ordinary" rhythms of our lives and see how God is planting something extraordinary within them.
Today’s readings from the Prophet Hosea and the Gospel of Matthew give us a beautiful, interconnected roadmap for our spiritual journey. They move us from the internal work of the heart: breaking up the "hard ground": to the external work of the mission: being sent out to proclaim the Kingdom.
The Agricultural Heart: Sowing for Justice
In the first reading (Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12), we encounter a striking image. Israel is described as a "luxuriant vine" that has yielded plenty of fruit. On the surface, this sounds like a blessing, doesn't it? But Hosea points out a tragic irony: the more prosperous the people became, the more they built altars to false gods. Their hearts were divided. They took the gifts God gave them and used them to fuel their own independence and idolatry.
It is a danger we all face. When things are going well, when our "vine" is luxuriant, it is easy to start relying on our own strength, our bank accounts, or our social status. We start building "altars" to our own comfort, forgetting that the source of all our fruit is the Lord.
But God, in His mercy, doesn't leave us in our divided state. He gives us a direct command through Hosea that serves as a spiritual wake-up call:
"Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord."
This is such a powerful agricultural metaphor. Think about "fallow ground": soil that has become hard, packed down, and unproductive because it hasn't been worked. Our hearts can become like that. Habitual sin, indifference, or just the "busyness" of life can make our spirits hard and unreceptive.
Sowing justice isn't a passive act. You have to put effort into it. You have to "break up" that hard soil through repentance and a sincere desire to change. When we do that, we make room for God to "rain down justice" upon us. It’s a reminder that if we want to see the fruits of God’s love, peace, and kindness grow in our lives, we have to be intentional about what we are planting today.
The Movement Begins: The Calling of the Twelve
Turning to the Gospel (Matthew 10:1-7), we see what happens when the ground is finally prepared. Jesus looks at the world: at the "lost sheep": and He begins a movement that will change history.
He summons His twelve disciples and gives them authority. This is a pivotal moment. Up until now, we’ve seen Jesus doing the teaching and the healing. But here, He begins to multiply His reach. He shares His own power over "unclean spirits" and the ability to "cure every disease and illness" with twelve ordinary men.
What I love about this passage is that Matthew lists the Apostles by name. Simon (called Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, and the rest. These weren't superheroes; they were flawed human beings. Matthew even includes himself as "the tax collector" and mentions Judas Iscariot, "who betrayed him."
This tells us something vital: Jesus calls us exactly as we are, but He doesn't leave us that way. He gives us the authority and the grace needed for the mission He has in mind for us.
The Message: Proclaiming the Kingdom
Jesus’ instructions to the Twelve are very specific. At this stage, He sends them to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." He tells them to keep the message simple:
"As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’"
The "lost sheep" were the people who felt forgotten by the religious establishment, the people who were suffering, and those who had wandered away from God. Jesus wanted them to know that God hadn't given up on them. He wanted them to know that the Kingdom: God’s reign of mercy and justice: was right there, within their reach.
They were sent to heal, to drive out demons, and to bring hope. This mission wasn't about building an institution; it was about restoring people.
Connecting the Mission to the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA)
This "sending out" of the Twelve is not just a historical event; it is a living reality that continues today. At The Pontifical Mission Societies, specifically through the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA), we live out this exact Gospel passage every single day.
You might wonder: Who are the successors of the Twelve in the mission territories today?
They are the local men and women who feel the call to the priesthood or religious life in places where the Church is young or struggling. These are the "local clergy" who are being formed to serve their own "lost sheep" in their own languages and cultures.
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle was founded in 1889 with a very specific purpose: to ensure that no vocation is lost due to a lack of funds. Our mission is to support the training and formation of indigenous clergy and religious sisters in mission lands.
When Jesus gave the Twelve "authority," He was giving them the spiritual "tools" they needed. Today, that "authority" also requires formation and education. A seminarian in Africa, Asia, or Oceania needs a place to study, teachers to guide him, and the daily bread to sustain him so he can eventually go out and heal his people spiritually and physically.
By supporting SPA, you are directly participating in the "sending out" that we read about in Matthew's Gospel. You are helping to:
- Provide Ordinary Subsidies: Assisting with the daily needs and formation of seminarians and novices.
- Fund Extraordinary Subsidies: Building and renovating the seminaries where these "new fields" are being cultivated.
- Support Scholarships: Ensuring that future seminary educators have the advanced training they need to form the next generation of leaders.
We believe that for the Church to truly take root, it must be led by the people of that land. This is the heart of "breaking up a new field." Instead of relying indefinitely on foreign missionaries, we empower local communities to grow their own shepherds. For more than 130 years, we have worked directly with local bishops to ensure sustainable, locally-led church growth.
You can learn more about our specific history and the impact of our work on our website at The Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
Spiritual Reflection: Your "New Field"
As we sit with these readings today, I want to invite you to do a little "heart-work."
Is there a "new field" in your life right now? Perhaps it’s a new project at work, a relationship that has become strained (a hard ground that needs breaking up), or a new challenge you are facing.
- How can you sow seeds of justice in that situation today?
- Can you choose integrity over convenience?
- Can you offer a word of healing to someone who feels like a "lost sheep" in your own family or workplace?
Remember, our spiritual life isn't passive. We are called to be active farmers in the vineyard of the Lord. When we "seek the face of the Lord" as Hosea suggests, we find the strength to do the hard work of breaking up the fallow ground.
Moving Forward in Mission
The mission of the Twelve didn't end with the Twelve. It passed to the early Church, then through the centuries, and now it rests in our hands.
Whether you are "sowing" through your prayers, your daily acts of justice, or your financial support of the missions through The Pontifical Mission Societies, you are an essential part of this global movement. You are helping to tell the world that "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Seek always the face of the Lord. May you find His peace as you work your "fields" today, and may you always know that the seeds of kindness and justice you plant will, by His grace, yield a magnificent harvest.
Thank you for your heart for the missions and for your continued support of our brothers and sisters around the world.
God bless you,
: Fr. ADD
Contact Information:
The Pontifical Mission Societies
70 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
Email: info@propfaith.org
Website: www.pontificalmissions.org