06-05-2005, 10:55 AM
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SKEmpress
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,268
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Sunday REading Reflections for June 5
The Tenth Sunday of the Year – 5 June 2005 Hosea 6: 3-6Romans 4: 18-24Matthew 9: 9-13
The First Reading is one of the most moving passages in the Old Testament. Hosea is the great Prophet of God’s love. In today’s reading Hosea says that despite God’s love, generosity and goodness in providing or the needs of the Jewish people, their faith and love was `ephemeral’, like the dew that disappears as dawn gives rise to the day.
Sacrifice has been an important part of the response of human beings to their awareness of their dependence on God. But to be genuine, the gifts offered in sacrifice should be an expression of our heart-felt trust, praise, love, thanksgiving, compassion, mercy and repentance.
The Old Testament records numerous examples of sacrifice, but in today’s Second Reading Paul reminds us of the faith of Abraham, his trust in God by offering his son, Isaac, in Sacrifice. What tremendous faith Abraham showed by trusting that the God who promised him sons as numerous as the sands on the seashore would honour his promise, even if he were to obey what he heard God now calling him to do, to kill his only son. He had waited for 25 years for this son, and Sarah was well `past child-bearing age’. But he was certain that God would be faithful to his promises. It was this faith that `justified’ him, made him `right’ with God. God rewarded his faith by staying the knife.
But we are not called to sacrifice an only son. Paul says that WE will be justified `if we believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead’. He says Jesus was raised to life to justify us. So we are made right with God not by anything WE do, or could ever do, but because of our faith in what JESUS DID for us.
The Pharisees thought they were `justified’ because they not only obeyed the Ten Commandments, but also obeyed the hundreds of regulations that surrounded it. We face the same danger of thinking we will be saved by religious observance. The Pharisees complained to Jesus’ disciples that he `ate with tax collectors and sinners’. Jesus got to hear of this and he rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He said: I did not come to call the `virtuous’, but sinners (to repentance). Learn the meaning of the words: `What I want is mercy not sacrifice. Mercy is something you show to someone who is guilty and deserves to be punished. All of us are guilty and deserve to be punished, but the sacrifice Jesus offered to the Father on our behalf showed God’s mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
In the Eucharist we are called, in the words of today’s Psalm, to `Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and render him your votive offerings’. But we must make sure all this is sincere and heartfelt. If it is, then God says: `Call on me on the Day of distress. I will free you and you shall honour me.’
What do you need to be `freed’ from? What are you in bondage to? Fear? Anxiety? Addiction? The results of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse? A sinful habit? God welcomes sinners. He has dealt with sin. Jesus died for your sins on the Cross. .
`Commit your life to the Lord; trust in him and he will act on your behalf’ (Psalm 37 verse 5). Trust that God loves you, whatever you have done or failed to do. Trust that your sins have been forgiven because of what Jesus did for you on the Cross, Commit your life to the Lord, and he will ACT on your behalf. He will free you from whatever is binding you. Trust him!
from http://www.catholic-bible-school.org...-readings.html
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Michelle mom to Alex (5/98), Kate (9/01), & Meg (2/04)
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