"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." Hosea 14:10 (full readings)
Steve's Reflections: The first reading from Hosea begins with these words, "Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God..." God is desperately crying out to a rebellious nation to come back to him. The mighty nation of Israel had become divided between two kingdoms with two kings. God's wrath would come soon, but he sent the prophet Hosea to give his people one more chance. Hosea would appeal to seven different kings in his life, but the first would hold the greatest sin. King Jeroboam knowingly turned from the will of God and reintroduced idol worship to his people even though he knew God's plan to unify the kingdom. He ultimately placed his own desires above God's desires. His rebellious attitude (knowing what is right but doing something evil) would have terrible consequences. Has God ever asked you to do something difficult? God asked Hosea to marry a prostitute, Gomer, so that he would become a living example to all of Israel of their unfaithfulness to him. Hosea's pain became his ammunition as he cried out to the people to return to God. Hosea would be the last prophet before the destruction of Israel by the Assyrians - 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel would be scattered and lost. Little has changed in 3000 years - we are still rebelling and turning away from the will of God. We know what is right, but we follow our own paths. Today's verse speaks of this stumbling block for sinners. Encountering God's love ultimately changes our entire paradigm. Where we once lived for ourselves we now live for God. In what way has rebelliousness interfered with God's will in your life? How are you still living for yourself and not for God? Listen to this beautiful classic taken from the book of Hosea, Come back to me.
Faith Challenge: God is calling out for you to return to him this Lent - turn back to him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul.
Sr. Francelle's Devotion: The Sorrows of Mary "Since Mary was the Mother of God, it would seem that she would have no sorrows. This is not true at all. Mary suffered all of the sorrows of Jesus because she was His mother - just as any mother suffers when she knows her child suffers."
Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: St. Hugh of Grenoble (d. 1132) "Today’s saint could be a patron for those of us who feel so overwhelmed by all the problems in the world that we don’t know where to begin."
Faith Quote: "Long have I waited for you coming home to me..." Lyrics, Hosea (Come Back to Me)
Through Christ Our Lord,
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.
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