Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:32-37
It is said that it took one day for the Israelites to get out of Egypt, but it took for 40 years to get Egypt of the Israelites.
During those 40 years of wandering in the desert, Israel was always complaining against Moses and the Lord God.
They were punished with deadly bites from fiery serpents and a whole generation of Israelites perished in the desert during those 40 years.
But even when they finally entered the Promised Land, they continued to defy the Lord God by worshipping idols and being unfaithful to the Lord God.
As we heard in the 1st reading, even God seems to be asking: How long will it be before they purge themselves of this, the sons of Israel?
And the 1st reading concludes with this very sad statement: He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Israel!
The 1st reading ended off with punishment, but the gospel proclaims the good news of salvation with Jesus curing all kinds of diseases and sickness and casting out devils.
The time of rebellion and punishment has come to an end with the coming of Jesus. Now is the time of salvation and redemption.
Let us not be rebels but be labourers of the Lord's harvest and work for the Lord to bring out His people from the Egypt of sin and slavery.