Daily Readings - Fri Mar 20 2020
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 encounter two powerful calls to devotion and love. The prophet Hosea urges the Israelites to return to the Lord, turning away from their sins and idols, trusting not in earthly alliances but in God's mercy. This call to repentance is not just a historical lesson but a timeless invitation to each of us to examine our hearts and redirect our focus to God.
In the Gospel, Jesus, when asked about the greatest commandment, emphasizes loving God with our entire being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This teaching, affirmed by the scribe, underscores that true devotion to God is inseparable from our treatment of others. Both readings highlight the importance of a sincere, heartfelt relationship with God that naturally overflows into love and service for others.
As we reflect on these teachings, let us consider how we can turn away from our own 'idols'—be they distractions, sins, or self-reliance—and instead prioritize a deep, prayerful connection with God. Let us also examine how we extend love and compassion to those around us, remembering that our faith is lived out in both our devotion to God and our actions towards others. May we strive to love God fully and our neighbors selflessly, embodying the essence of the Christian life.