Daily Readings - Sat Mar 18 2023
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 themes of humility, mercy, 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 emphasizes that true knowledge of God and a deep understanding of His ways are far more important than outward acts of sacrifice or piety. The passage reminds us that God desires mercy, not just ritual, and that our hearts must be open to His healing and transformation. The imagery of being struck down and then revived on the third day hints at the resurrection and the hope of new life in God.
In the Gospel, Luke shares the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, which starkly contrasts pride and humility. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, looks down on others, while 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. This parable challenges us to examine our own attitudes and prayers, urging us to approach God not with self-righteousness, but with honesty and humility.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not about outward appearances or comparing ourselves to others, but about a genuine, inward transformation. In our daily lives, we are called to seek God with sincerity, acknowledging our weaknesses and trusting in His mercy. Let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that true righteousness comes not from our own efforts, but from a deep relationship with God. May we, like the tax collector, approach God with hearts open to His grace, knowing that He lifts up those who are humble and contrite.