Daily Readings - Fri Mar 29 2019
Hosea
1O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.3Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.4I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.5I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.6His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.7They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.8Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.9Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Mark
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.32And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:33And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.34And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear powerful messages about love and mercy. The Prophet Hosea calls Israel to return to the Lord, promising healing and restoration through God's merciful love. Using vivid imagery like dew and lilies, Hosea illustrates how God's grace can revive even the most withered hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. A scribe agrees, acknowledging that these teachings surpass even sacrifices, and Jesus affirms his understanding, noting his closeness to the kingdom of God.
These passages, though from different times, share a common theme: the transformative power of love. Hosea's context was a divided Israel facing conquest, yet he emphasizes God's mercy over punishment. Similarly, Jesus, in a tense Jerusalem setting, simplifies the law to its essence—love. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God and others is central to our faith.
Let us reflect on how we embody this love in our lives. Do our actions and decisions stem from a deep love for God and neighbor? Let us examine our hearts and interactions, ensuring they reflect the transformative love these readings call us to. Remember, our faith is not just in rituals but in living out genuine love, the foundation of our relationship with God and each other.