Daily Readings - Fri Jun 07 2024
Hosea
1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.2The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them.4I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.9I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.
Ephesians
8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
John
31Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.34But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.35He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe.36For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken."37And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound expressions of God's love, each offering a unique perspective on its nature and impact. The first reading from Hosea portrays God as a loving father, deeply sorrowful yet merciful, yearning to redeem Israel despite their rebellion. This passage highlights God's patience and enduring love, emphasizing that His love is not conditional but transformative.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the universal scope of God's love. Paul, in his mission to the Gentiles, reveals that this love is not confined to a chosen few but is intended for all. He prays for believers to be strengthened and to grasp the depth of Christ's love, illustrating that God's wisdom and love are accessible to everyone, fostering unity and enriching our lives.
The Gospel from John presents the ultimate act of love through Jesus' sacrifice. The crucifixion scene, with the piercing of Jesus' side, symbolizes the birth of the Church and the sacraments, reminding us that God's love is sacrificial and life-giving. This act fulfills Scripture, showing that God's love is both redemptive and transformative.
Reflecting on these readings, we are called to embody God's love in our daily lives. Just as God's love is universal, our actions should reflect this by embracing others with compassion and kindness. Let us strive to share God's love in our communities, just as Hosea, Paul, and Jesus exemplified. The moral lesson here is clear: God's love is boundless, and we are called to be vessels of this love, transforming the world around us through our actions and faith.