Daily Readings - Sat Mar 13 2021

Hosea

Chapter 5

¹⁵I will go and return to my place, until you shall grow faint and seek my face

¹In their tribulation, they will arise early to me. Come, let us return to the Lord²For he has seized us, and he will heal us. He will strike, and he will cure us³He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. We will understand, and we will continue on, so that we may know the Lord. His landing place has been prepared like the first light of morning, and he will come to us like the early and the late rains of the land⁴What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? Your mercy is like the morning mist, and like the dew passing away in the morning⁵Because of this, I have cut them with the prophets, I have slain them with the words of my mouth; and your opinions will depart like the light⁶For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God more than holocausts

Luke

Chapter 18

⁹Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable¹⁰"Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector¹¹Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be¹²I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.¹³And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.¹⁴I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of humility and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Hosea, we hear the prophet’s call to return to the Lord with sincerity and humility. Hosea speaks to a people who have wandered away from God, urging them to seek mercy and knowledge of God rather than relying on empty rituals. The passage emphasizes that true faith is not about outward practices but about a genuine conversion of heart. Hosea reminds us that God desires our love and humility more than sacrifices or grand gestures. In the Gospel, Luke presents a parable that reinforces this message. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, prays with pride, listing his accomplishments and looking down on others. In contrast, the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified. This parable warns us against the danger of self-righteousness and the importance of approaching God with humility and honesty. These readings remind us that our faith must be rooted in humility and a willingness to acknowledge our shortcomings. In our daily lives, we are called to examine our hearts and our prayers. Do we approach God with the same humility as the tax collector, or do we, like the Pharisee, rely on our own efforts and look down on others? Let us seek to cultivate a spirit of humility and sincerity, knowing that it is through this posture that we grow closer to God and find true justification.