Friday of 14th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Return to the Lord; abundant blessings await you

Reading: Hosea 14:1–9

Today’s first reading comes from the last chapter of the book of the prophet Hosea. Hosea masterfully wrapped up his book by reminding his people that it was their sins that made them to stumble and fall and by inviting them to return to the Lord to confess their sins, admitting that idols will never again be their God, that Assyria cannot save them, and that horses cannot protect them.

The Lord promised that if the Israelites answered Hosea’s call, He would love them with all of His heart and shower blessings upon them like rain, making them blossom like flowers, beautiful like olive trees, and fragrant like Lebanon’s cedars.

Dear friends, Hosea’s message to Israel is still relevant to all of us who need the blessings of God in our lives to survive the reality of our time. Sins can only make us stumble and fall. Reliance on human beings and material possessions do not give us the fulfilment that makes us whole; romance with idols do not give human beings the peace of mind to enjoy the fruits of such relationship. The only source of the peace and fulfilment that our hearts truly yearn for is God. Let us, therefore, trace our paths back to God, acknowledging our wrongs and promising Him that we will not return to our past life of sin. If we do this, the fullness of the blessings He promised to the people of Israel during Hosea’s time will be ours and our hearts will truly be satisfied.

May the blessings of God be yours as you open your heart to Him today. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima