Friday March 20, 2009 of the third week in Lent

March 20, 2009 Frisday ofthe Third Week in Lent
READINGS: Hosea 14: 2-10 Pslam 81 Mark 12: 28-34
Psalm response: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

The disasterous marriage to Gomer, in the early writings of Hosea, show the disappointment of God over the abandonment of His precepts, Israel has gone over to false gods of the surrounding nations and no longer walks in the ways he was taught.
In closing his prophecy, Hosea becomes the foercaster of Israel's future. All the descriptive words describe in the fashion of the pslams and proverbs, the turn about of the israelites to their original God and His penchant for them. The sacrifices of old would measure their love and affection. They will repent of their former evil ways and take up the mantle of righteousness henchforth.

The writer of the psalm recalls God's action when Israel was foundering and knew not where to turn. Of themselves, they were hopeless. But God came to their rescue when they called out to Him even though they weren't sure of His compassion when they ignored Him. They were enthralled by the Egyptian gods and their supposed ability to strangthen the people while enbling them to enslave Jacob.

When the Scribes questioned Jesus with the purpose of entraping Him into blasphemy, they were astonished at His answer. After all, He wasn't of their ilk. He proposes actions contrary to their traditions. They, therefore, expected Him to make some outlandish statement encabling them to accuse Him of a capital crime.
Instead, He utilizes the Rabbinic style by answering using Scripture. His response followed the books of Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 and Leviticus 17: 18, emphasizing the love of God and neighbor.
These commandments of Love transend all the pther writings know to them.

We are able to focus on the Love of God and neighbor by our concern for each other's needs. When we supply them to any of His children we are in His stead, Him. Our divine nature shows iteself emphatically when we imitate His actions!