Wednesday of the
Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hosea 10:1-3.7-8.12; Matthew 10:1-7)
The great twentieth century spiritual master Thomas
Merton decried false piety. He wrote that
often in pursuit of an ideal, that ultimately proves to be mistaken, people misconstrue
reality. This error is seen in the person
who “storms heaven” by exaggerated prayer and fasting in order to secure God’s
help. Merton indicated that the most
people can do is to quiet themselves so that they may perceive the presence of God
when He comes. Merton echoed the prophet
Hosea in today’s first reading.
Hosea is convinced that the Kingdom of Israel is lost; the
nation will never be just. He tells the people
that they must start over again. This
time they are to practice true piety. “Sow for yourselves justice,” he says. In other words they are to follow the Law anew
in anticipation of the Lord’s coming. God
arrives, of course, with Jesus.
We must take care not to falsify religion with sanctimony
like the people of Israel in Hosea’s time.
We should remember that love of neighbor is the surest way to love
God. Also, we should not forget that prayer
and other acts of piety are not to be done to attract anyone’s attention, not
even God’s. Rather they make us open us
to God’s coming with the fullness of life.
