Lenten Moments of Mercy: Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Friday of the Third Week of Lent Memorial of St. Casimir   God never loses patience with us, but is constantly drawing nearer to us.

Scripture I will heal their disloyalty;       I will love them freely,       for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel;       he shall blossom like the lily,       he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon. Hosea 14:4‒5   Reflection The first reading is from the prophet Hosea, who prophesied as the northern kingdom of Israel was in the process of falling to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. Under God’s guidance Hosea married a woman who was unfaithful. Hosea’s struggle with his relationship with her was at the heart of his personal and social witness to how God was dealing with his unfaithful people. When Hosea’s wife left him, Hosea brought her back. In the same way he prophesied that while God would discipline the people, he would always remember his relationship with them and bring them back. As other prophets, Hosea was critical of the people who believed that simply the external practice of sacrifice would be pleasing to God. God was not pleased with sacrifice alone, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, / the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) In the end, though, Hosea’s final words from today’s readings are a reflection of God’s patience with his people. The image “I will be like dew to Israel” is especially poignant. Dew is a symbol of a divine gift of life. It appears in the dry season and is an important source of living water in a land of cold nights and very warm days. It is a gentle presence of the divine. As we consider our own history with God, which will include the memory of many times we have thought God had lost his patience with us, we can realize that his presence is like the dew, giving us the gentle nourishment of his continuing love, grace, and mercy.

Pope Francis “This is the heart of our Father. God is like that: he does not tire. And God did this for many centuries, with so much apostasy . . .  among the people. And he always returns because our God is a God who waits.” Morning Meditation, 28 March 2014   Lenten Action ► Plan to attend a communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation sponsored by your parish or diocese. ► View Reconciliation resources at Loyola Press.   Prayer Lord, help us to be among the people who listen to you and walk in your ways.

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