Daily Readings - Sat Mar 26 2022
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
In today’s readings, we hear powerful messages about humility, mercy, and the true nature of our relationship with God. In the first reading from Hosea, the prophet speaks of a people in distress, who, in their tribulation, turn back to the Lord seeking healing and restoration. Hosea emphasizes that true devotion to God is not about outward rituals but about a humble and sincere heart. The passage reminds us that God desires mercy and knowledge of His ways over external displays of piety.
In the Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, looks down on others, while the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble and contrite heart that is pleasing to God. This parable cuts through self-righteousness and reminds us that true faith is not about comparing ourselves to others but about recognizing our own need for God’s mercy.
Both readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances or self-justification but about a humble, sincere heart. Hosea calls us to return to the Lord with genuine devotion, while Luke's parable shows that it's the humble who are exalted. In our daily lives, let us avoid the trap of self-righteousness. Instead, let us approach God with the humility of the tax collector, recognizing our need for His mercy and living with a heart open to His love and guidance.