Daily Readings - Sat Mar 21 2020
Hosea
15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.2After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.4O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.5Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Luke
9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we hear a powerful call to humility and a deeper relationship with God. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people who have wandered from the Lord but are invited to return to him with humble hearts. Hosea describes a God who longs to heal and restore his people, but he laments their superficial devotion, which is as fleeting as the morning mist. The prophet emphasizes that true worship is not about external rituals but about seeking God with sincerity and knowledge. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel reinforces this message through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, prays with pride, while the tax collector, humbled by his sinfulness, cries out for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble, not the self-righteous, who are justified in God’s sight.
These readings are deeply connected, as both Hosea and Jesus challenge us to examine the state of our hearts. Hosea calls us to move beyond superficial religion, while Jesus exposes the dangers of pride and self-reliance. Together, they remind us that true faith is not about comparing ourselves to others or relying on our own works, but about acknowledging our need for God and approaching him with humility. This is a timeless message, as relevant today as it was in Hosea’s time or when Jesus walked among us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we approach God in our prayers and in our lives? Do we come with the humility of the tax collector, recognizing our limitations and sins, or do we, like the Pharisee, focus on our own perceived righteousness? Let us strive to cultivate a spirit of humility and sincerity, knowing that it is only when we acknowledge our need for God that we can truly experience his healing and restoration. May we seek the Lord with humble hearts, for it is in humility that we find true justification and peace.