Friday, March 13, 2026

 

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

(Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)

 The name “social media” sounds promising.  It speaks of people coming out of their shells to know others.  The reality of social media – it turns out – has been as much harmful as helpful.  From the first, on apps like Facebook many have used social media for exaggerated self-promotion. With more sophisticated apps like X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Instagram, and Tic Tok along with Facebook, social media has enabled groups to foment common prejudices and hatred.  

As much as anything else, social media is a human invention that is given godlike attention. In today’s first reading the prophet Hosea foresees a time when such artificial creations will cease to enthrall people to distort truth.  He hopes that society “… shall say no more, 'Our god,' to the work of (its) hands.”  Condemning social media, however, is no more a remedy to the problem than condemning television was fifty years ago when sociologists became aware of all the violence it projected.  Rather than that, there must be a reform that takes society back to the first priorities of a vibrant social life.

Jesus names these priorities in today’s gospel.  First, people must strive to do God’s will.  Then, proceeding from this principle, they must treat others like they want to be treated.  This is a tall order in a pluralistic society where many do not know God and many others understand Him in different ways.  It calls for us to pray that God acts in His mysterious ways.  It also summons our testimony to Jesus Christ through public worship and sacrifice of self on behalf of those in need.

Friday, March 12, 2021

 Friday of the Third Week on Lent

(Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)

The first element of Jesus’ response to the scribe in today’s gospel is unremarkable.  Every Jew of his time would recite the same words daily: “’You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,…’”  It is the first and foremost commandment, not only for Jews but for the whole world.  The second element of Jesus’ answer, however, is worthy of note.  Jesus is making an add-on to the first commandment.  Besides loving God, one must love one’s neighbor. 

A well-known Peanuts cartoon shows Linus yelling to the wind, “I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.”  This posture would not fulfill Jesus’ concept of love of neighbor.  For Jesus, “neighbor” includes all people – friends, associates, unknown humans, even enemies.  They will be loved in different ways.  Some are helped directly.  Others are considered in a positive light.  Everyone can at least be included in prayer.

As primary as the first commandment is, we still sometimes forget to express our love for God.  In fact, we may allow our love for God to be consumed in love of neighbor.  If this happens, we are likely to lose our love for both God and neighbor.  We love God because He has graced us time after time.  We love our neighbors because God has graced them too, just like us.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

(Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)

Jesus’ first commandment sounds daunting.  We might ask whether we could love anyone else if we direct all our affection toward God.  Even more discouraging, it may further seem that only the strictest of contemplatives can fulfill this mandate.  The rest of us – priests in ministry as well as laity in the world – will have to be judged as falling short.

But these kinds of conclusions are based on the premise that love is a material quantity that gets used up over time.  To the contrary, love is a spiritual entity that is multiplied by use.  When we attempt to love God, we develop greater not lesser affection for God’s creation.  It is true that sometimes desire for created goods conflicts with God’s will and must be rejected.  But pursuing the desire would actually be loving the created good more than the Creator. 

In today’s reading from Hosea we hear God calling us back to him.  Like dogs on an escapade we sometimes go searching for fulfillment away from our true home.  In God, however, our desires are ordered so that we might enjoy everything that is truly good. 

Friday, March 4, 2016

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

(Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)

Jesus’ first commandment sounds daunting.  We might ask whether we could love anyone else if we direct all our affection toward God.  Even more discouraging, it may further seem that only the strictest of contemplatives can fulfill this mandate.  The rest of us – priests in ministry as well as laity – will have to be judged as falling short.

But these kinds of conclusions are based on the premise that love is a material quantity with finite proportions.  To the contrary, love is a spiritual entity that is multiplied by use.  When we attempt to love God, we develop greater not lesser affection for God’s creation.  It is true that sometimes desire for created goods conflicts with God’s will and must be rejected.  But pursing the desire would actually be loving the created good more than the Creator. 

In today’s reading from Hosea we hear God calling us back to him.  Like dogs on an adventure we sometimes go searching for fulfillment away from our true home.  In God, however, our desires are ordered so that we might enjoy everything that is truly good. 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Friday of the third Week of Lent

 (Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)

 The popular children’s book The Giving Tree tells how an apple tree benefits a man from childhood to old age.  In youth the tree provides a boy food and a place of recreation.  As he grows older, the tree becomes a man’s source of income and lumber.  And in old age the tree supports the elder’s need for rest.  In today’s first reading the prophet Hosea speaks of Israel having such gracious qualities as the “giving tree.”

 The Lord says that after its chastening, Israel will return to His justice.  It will look to neither idols nor allies for salvation, but find the path of righteousness. Then it will flourish like cedar, cypress, and olive trees.  The prophet’s poetry is given more meaningful expression in Jesus’ description of God’s greatest commandments as love of God and neighbor.

 Love of others seems like a simple lesson, but it takes most of us a lifetime to figure out.  Even children demonstrate greed and vindictiveness.  It is a practice that originates in the Word of God, is conditioned by suffering, and is nurtured by prayer.