Daily Readings - Fri Mar 12 2021
Hosea
1Israel, convert to the Lord your God. For you have been ruined by your own iniquity2Take these words with you and return to the Lord. And say to him, "Remove all iniquity and accept the good. And we will repay the calves of our lips3Assur will not save us; we will not ride on horses. Neither will we say any more, ‘The works of our hands are our gods,’ for those that are in you will have mercy on the orphan.4I will heal their contrition; I will love them spontaneously. For my wrath has been turned away from them5I will be like the dew; Israel will spring forth like the lily, and his root will spread out like that of the cedars of Lebanon6His branches will advance, and his glory will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance will be like that of the cedars of Lebanon7They will be converted, sitting in his shadow. They will live on wheat, and they will grow like a vine. His memorial will be like the wine of the cedars of Lebanon8Ephraim will say, "What are idols to me any more?" I will listen to him, and I will set him straight like a healthy spruce tree. Your fruit has been found by me9Who is wise and will understand this? Who has understanding and will know these things? For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the just will walk in them, but truly, the traitors will fall in them
Mark
28And one of the scribes, who had heard them arguing, drew near to him. And seeing that he had answered them well, he questioned him as to which was the first commandment of all29And Jesus answered him: "For the first commandment of all is this: ‘Listen, O Israel. The Lord your God is one God30And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength. This is the first commandment.31But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said to him: Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth that there is one God, and there is no other beside him33and that he should be loved from the whole heart, and from the whole understanding, and from the whole soul, and from the whole strength. And to love one’s neighbor as one’s self is greater than all holocausts and sacrifices.34And Jesus, seeing that he had responded wisely, said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to question him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful invitations to deepen our relationship with God and with one another. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people called to return to the Lord with sincerity and humility. Hosea urges Israel to let go of their idolatrous ways and to seek God’s mercy with open hearts. The prophet paints a vivid picture of God’s desire to heal and restore his people, promising that those who turn to him will find life and flourishing under his care. This passage reminds us that conversion is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of turning back to God, trusting in his love and mercy.
The Gospel reading from Mark complements this message as Jesus engages with a scribe who asks about the greatest commandment. Jesus responds by affirming the Shema from Deuteronomy, declaring that the first and foremost commandment is to love God with our entire being—heart, soul, mind, and strength. He then adds the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, emphasizing that these two are inseparable. The scribe, recognizing the truth in Jesus’ words, acknowledges that loving God and neighbor is even greater than ritual sacrifices. Jesus praises the scribe’s understanding and encourages him, saying he is not far from the kingdom of God. This exchange reminds us that our faith is not just about rules or rituals but about living out the profound truth of love.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we prioritize love in our lives. Are we seeking God with our whole hearts, or are we distracted by lesser things? Are we truly loving our neighbors, especially those who may be difficult or marginalized? The good news is that God’s mercy is always available to us, inviting us to return and to live in a way that reflects his love. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to embody this twofold commandment: to love God deeply and to love others as we love ourselves. In doing so, we not only draw closer to God but also become instruments of his healing and grace in the world.