Reading 1, Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13

4 They have set up kings, but without my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold, they have made themselves idols, but only to be destroyed.

5 I spurn your calf, Samaria! My blazes against them! How long it be before they recover their innocence?

6 For it is the product of Israel- a craftsman made the thing, it is no at all! The calf of be broken to pieces!

7 Since they sow the wind, they reap the whirlwind; stalk without ear, it never yield flour- or if it does, foreigners swallow it.

11 Ephraim keeps building altars for his sins, these very altars are themselves a sin.

12 However much of my I write for him, Ephraim regards it as alien to him.

13 They offer sacrifices to me and eat the meat, they do not win Yahweh's favour. On the contrary, he remember their guilt and punish their sins; they have to go back to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 115:3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10

3 Our is in heaven, he creates whatever he chooses.

4 They have idols of silver and gold, made by human hands.

5 These have mouths but say nothing, have eyes but see nothing,

6 have ears but hear nothing, have noses but smell nothing.

7 They have hands but cannot feel, have feet but cannot walk, no sound comes from their throats.

8 Their makers end up like them, and all who rely on them.

9 House of Israel, rely on Yahweh; he is their help and their shield.

10 House of Aaron, rely on Yahweh; he is their help and their shield.

Gospel, Matthew 9:32-38

32 They had only just left when suddenly a was brought to him, a dumb demoniac.

33 And when the was driven out, the dumb spoke and the people were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'

34 But the said, 'It is through the prince of devils that he drives out devils.'

35 Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.

36 And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

37 Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'