1ST READING
The
prophet Hosea uses the image of a marriage to speak about God’s
relationship with Israel. It is shocking and disturbing because it
easily captures both faithfulness (God) and unfaithfulness (our sin). It
is also a beautiful image because we all know how a marriage should be
and we are all aware that our relationship with God is a long way from
that mutual and self-giving love.
Hosea 14:2-10
2 Thus says the Lord: Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3 Take
with you words, and return to the Lord; say to him, “Forgive all
iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the
bullocks from our stalls. 4 Assyria
will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; we shall say no
more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds
compassion.” 5 “I will heal their defection, says the Lord, ‘I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them.’ 6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 8 Again
they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; they shall blossom like
the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 9 Ephraim!
What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will
prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree” — Because of me you bear
fruit! 10 Let
him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know
them. Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but
sinners stumble in them.
P S A L M
Psalm 81:6-8, 8-9, 10-11, 14, 17
R: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
5 [6] An unfamiliar speech I hear. 6 [7] “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 7 [8] In distress you called, and I rescued you.” (R) “Unseen, I answered you in thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 8 [9] Hear, my people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, will you not
hear me?” (R) 9 [10] “There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god. 10 [11] I, the Lord, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.” (R) 13 [14] “If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, 16 [17] I would feed with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.” (R)
GOSPEL
Love
for God is all or nothing. Why? Because God is infinite love and it is
not possible to have a relationship with Him unless we are willing to
give our all. Our mortality is not an excuse for holding anything back
from God. He has given us everything in His Son, Jesus, and so we must
give Him everything, too. God does not want a half-relationship with us —
He wants our all so that He can unite us with Him.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is
this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. 33 And
to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all
your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than
all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the
Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
think: God does not want a half-relationship with us — He wants our all so that He can unite us with Him.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 16-18
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