Daily Readings - Fri Jun 07 2024
Hosea
1"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.2But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.3It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.4I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.8"How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.9I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
Ephesians
8Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.14For this reason I kneel before the Father,15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
John
31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound expressions of God's love, each offering a unique perspective on its nature and impact. The first reading from Hosea portrays God as a loving father, deeply sorrowful yet merciful, yearning to redeem Israel despite their rebellion. This passage highlights God's patience and enduring love, emphasizing that His love is not conditional but transformative.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the universal scope of God's love. Paul, in his mission to the Gentiles, reveals that this love is not confined to a chosen few but is intended for all. He prays for believers to be strengthened and to grasp the depth of Christ's love, illustrating that God's wisdom and love are accessible to everyone, fostering unity and enriching our lives.
The Gospel from John presents the ultimate act of love through Jesus' sacrifice. The crucifixion scene, with the piercing of Jesus' side, symbolizes the birth of the Church and the sacraments, reminding us that God's love is sacrificial and life-giving. This act fulfills Scripture, showing that God's love is both redemptive and transformative.
Reflecting on these readings, we are called to embody God's love in our daily lives. Just as God's love is universal, our actions should reflect this by embracing others with compassion and kindness. Let us strive to share God's love in our communities, just as Hosea, Paul, and Jesus exemplified. The moral lesson here is clear: God's love is boundless, and we are called to be vessels of this love, transforming the world around us through our actions and faith.