Daily Readings - Sat Mar 18 2023
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 themes of humility, mercy, 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 emphasizes that true knowledge of God and a deep understanding of His ways are far more important than outward acts of sacrifice or piety. The passage reminds us that God desires mercy, not just ritual, and that our hearts must be open to His healing and transformation. The imagery of being struck down and then revived on the third day hints at the resurrection and the hope of new life in God.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, which starkly contrasts pride and humility. 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 justified before God. This parable challenges us to examine our own attitudes and prayers, urging us to approach God not with self-righteousness, but with honesty and humility.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not about outward appearances or comparing ourselves to others, but about a genuine, inward transformation. In our daily lives, we are called to seek God with sincerity, acknowledging our weaknesses and trusting in His mercy. Let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that true righteousness comes not from our own efforts, but from a deep relationship with God. May we, like the tax collector, approach God with hearts open to His grace, knowing that He lifts up those who are humble and contrite.