Daily Readings - Sat Mar 13 2021
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of humility and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Hosea, we hear the prophet’s call to return to the Lord with sincerity and humility. Hosea speaks to a people who have wandered away from God, urging them to seek mercy and knowledge of God rather than relying on empty rituals. The passage emphasizes that true faith is not about outward practices but about a genuine conversion of heart. Hosea reminds us that God desires our love and humility more than sacrifices or grand gestures.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a parable that reinforces this message. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, prays with pride, listing his accomplishments and looking down on others. In contrast, the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified. This parable warns us against the danger of self-righteousness and the importance of approaching God with humility and honesty.
These readings remind us that our faith must be rooted in humility and a willingness to acknowledge our shortcomings. In our daily lives, we are called to examine our hearts and our prayers. Do we approach God with the same humility as the tax collector, or do we, like the Pharisee, rely on our own efforts and look down on others? Let us seek to cultivate a spirit of humility and sincerity, knowing that it is through this posture that we grow closer to God and find true justification.