Monday
of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hosea
2:16.17c-18.21-22; Matthew 9:18-26)
Today’s
reading from the prophet Hosea complements the history of Israel whose story
was told at Mass during the last few weeks.
Hosea prophesied in Israel during the period of its corruption and
downfall. The people abandoned the
justice which God’s law sought to establish.
Instead of absolute worship of the Lord God and care for the oppressed,
the well-to-do people of both Northern and Southern Kingdoms chose self-gratification and worship of indulgent gods. The result was disaster.
Hosea writes
of a future time when Israel would recognize the true God who rescued their
ancestors from slavery and endowed them with a law of moral perfection. The prophet identifies Israel with a wanton
woman who is left in distress. God calls
this woman into the desert of penance where she recognizes her sins and returns
to the Lord, her Creator and Redeemer.
Once forgiven, she becomes the Lord’s bride in a union of faithful love.
We
recognize the marriage taking place in Jesus’ union with Israel’s remnant which
forms the Church. His cross has cleansed
the people of their sins. His resurrection has made her his bride for eternity. We become his bride when we renounce desires
to live for pleasure or power over others.
We also pledge ourselves to God’s honor and glory. As troubled as our social environment has
become, giving ourselves solely to him is a tall order. But we must not reject it because it promises
fullness of life.
