Daily Readings - Sat Mar 29 2025
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 are invited to reflect on the themes of humility, mercy, and our relationship with God. The first reading from Hosea speaks of a people in distress, seeking God's face and acknowledging their need for healing. Hosea emphasizes that true knowledge of God and acts of mercy are far more valuable than outward sacrifices. This passage is set against the backdrop of Israel's unfaithfulness, yet it offers hope for restoration through genuine repentance and humility.
The Gospel parable from Luke contrasts the Pharisee, who prays with self-righteousness, and the tax collector, who humbly asks for mercy. Jesus teaches that it is the humble, not the self-exalted, who are justified. This parable challenges us to examine our own attitudes in prayer and in life, reminding us that true righteousness comes from recognizing our need for God's grace.
Both readings call us to live with humility and authenticity. In our daily lives, this means approaching prayer and relationships with a humble heart, acknowledging our shortcomings, and trusting in God's mercy. Let us strive to live in such a way that we seek God not out of pride, but out of a genuine desire to know and love Him.