Daily Readings - Sat Mar 13 2021
Hosea
15I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.
1"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.3Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Luke
9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who 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.