Daily Readings - Sat Mar 10 2018
Hosea
15Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me."
1"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.3Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."4"What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.5Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Luke
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons on humility and the nature of our relationship with God. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people in tribulation, seeking God’s face and acknowledging their need for healing and revival. Hosea emphasizes that God desires not sacrifices, but mercy and a true knowledge of Him. This passage reflects the prophet’s call to the Israelites to return to a genuine faith, one that goes beyond external rituals and touches the heart.
The Gospel parable from Luke contrasts the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlighting the dangers of self-righteousness and the beauty of humility. The Pharisee, focused on his own perceived righteousness, fails to recognize his need for God’s mercy. Meanwhile, the tax collector, humbly acknowledging his sinfulness, finds justification. Jesus teaches us that true righteousness comes not from comparing ourselves to others, but from a humble and contrite heart.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about outward appearances or self-justification. It is about approaching Him with humility, recognizing our limitations, and seeking His mercy. In our daily lives, let us reflect on our own prayer and relationship with God. May we avoid the trap of self-righteousness and instead seek Him with a sincere and humble heart, knowing that it is in humility that we are exalted.