Daily Readings - Sat Mar 09 2024
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 encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our approach to prayer. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people who have wandered away from God but are called to return to Him with humility and sincerity. Hosea emphasizes that true faith is not about external rituals but about seeking God with a contrite heart. The prophet reminds us that God desires mercy and a deep knowledge of Him more than sacrifices or hollow religious practices. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel presents a parable that contrasts the self-righteousness of a Pharisee with the humility of a tax collector. While the Pharisee boasts of his own righteousness, the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble and contrite heart that is justified before God.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on humility and the authentic pursuit of God. Hosea calls the people of Israel to abandon their superficial religiosity and return to a genuine relationship with the Lord, while Jesus warns against the dangers of self-righteousness and pride. Both readings remind us that true spirituality is not about comparing ourselves to others or relying on external acts of piety but about acknowledging our need for God’s mercy and grace. The tax collector’s prayer, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” is a beautiful example of the humility that God desires from us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we approach God in prayer? Do we come with a sense of self-satisfaction, or do we humbly acknowledge our limitations and sins? Let us also consider how we relate to others. Do we look down on those we perceive as less righteous, or do we recognize that we are all in need of God’s mercy? These readings call us to a deeper conversion of heart, to a faith that is rooted in humility and a genuine desire to know and love God above all else. May we, like the tax collector, find the courage to approach God with humility, knowing that it is in our weakness that His grace can truly shine.