Daily Readings - Sat Mar 09 2024
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 encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our approach to prayer. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people who have wandered away from God but are called to return to Him with humility and sincerity. Hosea emphasizes that true faith is not about external rituals but about seeking God with a contrite heart. The prophet reminds us that God desires mercy and a deep knowledge of Him more than sacrifices or hollow religious practices. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel presents a parable that contrasts the self-righteousness of a Pharisee with the humility of a tax collector. While the Pharisee boasts of his own righteousness, 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.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on humility and the authentic pursuit of God. Hosea calls the people of Israel to abandon their superficial religiosity and return to a genuine relationship with the Lord, while Jesus warns against the dangers of self-righteousness and pride. Both readings remind us that true spirituality is not about comparing ourselves to others or relying on external acts of piety but about acknowledging our need for God’s mercy and grace. The tax collector’s prayer, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” is a beautiful example of the humility that God desires from us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we approach God in prayer? Do we come with a sense of self-satisfaction, or do we humbly acknowledge our limitations and sins? Let us also consider how we relate to others. Do we look down on those we perceive as less righteous, or do we recognize that we are all in need of God’s mercy? These readings call us to a deeper conversion of heart, to a faith that is rooted in humility and a genuine desire to know and love God above all else. May we, like the tax collector, find the courage to approach God with humility, knowing that it is in our weakness that His grace can truly shine.