Daily Readings - Fri Mar 08 2024
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 profound invitations to deepen our relationship with God and with one another. The prophet Hosea calls Israel to repentance, urging them to turn away from idolatry and return to the Lord with wholehearted devotion. This passage, rich with imagery of growth and restoration, reminds us that God’s mercy is ever-ready to heal and renew us when we seek Him with sincerity. In the Gospel, Jesus engages a scribe in a discussion about the greatest commandments, emphasizing that loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the very essence of our faith. The scribe’s positive response highlights the transformative power of these teachings.
Both readings, though from different contexts, converge on the heart of our faith: love. Hosea’s call to repentance underscores God’s desire for a loving relationship with His people, while Jesus’ teaching reveals that love is the foundation of all divine commandments. This connection reminds us that our faith is not merely about rituals or rules but about cultivating a deep, abiding love for God and for others. Just as Hosea’s Israel is promised restoration through repentance, Jesus’ words offer us a path to draw near to the kingdom of God through love.
In our daily lives, these teachings invite us to examine how we prioritize love. Do our actions reflect a genuine love for God and for those around us? Hosea’s imagery of dew and lilies suggests that God’s grace can refresh and transform us, much like the morning dew revitalizes the earth. Similarly, Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves challenges us to see the divine image in everyone we meet. As we navigate our world, may we allow the love of God to flow through us, transforming our interactions and drawing us closer to His kingdom. Let us embrace this call to love, knowing that it is through such devotion that we find true life and purpose.