- James 1:22-25 -
Waldtraud
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a
man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes
away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks
intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this,
not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what
he does.
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It seems paradoxical that a law could give us freedom, but God's law points
out sin in us and gives us the opportunity to ask for God's forgiveness
(Romans 7:7-8). As Christians, we are saved by God's grace and salvation
frees us from sin's control. As believers, we are free to live as God
created us to live. Of course, this does not mean that we are free to do as
we please. We are now free to obey God.
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July 4th - Osee (Hosea), Prophet (RM)
8th century BC. Hosea lived in a period when, as is usual in the history of
the world, things were going badly. He seems to have been a contemporary of
Isaiah, but his prophecies were directed at his compatriots of Samaria, the
destruction of whose kingdom he foretold. The Hebrews who had settled in
Judea had reached a high point during the reigns of David and Solomon, but
since then they had separated into two kingdoms: the kingdom of the north,
Israel, and the southern kingdom of Judah.
The kings of Israel were a poor lot and there was anarchy
everywhere-military, political, and religious anarchy. For a country to be
defeated in a war is a far smaller tragedy than for a country to lose its
sense of vocation, and Hosea lamented this falling-off not only with his
preaching but also with his life.
The prophets of the Old Testament were very fond of striking people's
imaginations by what we would today call publicity stunts, such as walking
half naked through a town with a shaven head and carrying the yoke of an ox.
Hosea drew attention to himself by getting married, which may not sound very
original in itself but was what God wanted him to do, and God never
hesitates to outflank our limited intelligences.
Moreover He ordered Hosea to marry a prostitute-and please don't be
scandalized, because you will soon see that this story comes closer to home
than you might think. "Go, take a harlot wife," said God (Hosea 1:2), and
Hosea obeyed. He married a woman called Gomer, by whom he had a son called
Jezreel, and soon after that Gomer returned to her former trade.
Hosea wasn't surprised, but he had known Gomer long enough to come to love
her, and to love her with all his heart. She had two more children: a
daughter, Lo-ruhamah, which means "not loved," and a son, Lo-ammi, which
means "not of my people."
Hosea continued to love Gomer and when God ordered him to take her back he
obeyed, buying her for 15 pieces of silver and a barrel and a half of
barley. And that is all that we know about him, because that is all that God
wanted us to know, just the story of this marriage and of Hosea's great love
for a sad, even wretched, despised person. For the story of Hosea's tender
love is the story of God's tender love, and in the story of God's love the
prostitute is us.
For what is the story of Hosea if not the story of God who loves His people,
who is betrayed by His people-even by those who are the most faithful-but
Whose love is yet stronger than their betrayal? To make us understand His
love God begins by telling us about a marriage and ends by sending His Son
to live the Crucifixion. His love was in the beginning and will endure for
ever, for God has never brought Himself to hate man completely. Sometimes He
leaves man to himself, and that is His greatest punishment (5:15).
Hosea's whole life as well as his book bear witness to this great love of
God. Through his mouth we hear God weeping in rage and frustrated love over
the sins of mankind: "I will have no pity on her children, for they are the
children of harlotry. Yes, their mother has played the harlot; she that
conceived them has acted shamefully. . . . " (2:7).
But soon his anger abates and he takes new hope: "Then she shall say, 'I
will go back to my first husband; for it was better with me then than now"
(2:9). Surely we have here an echo, a herald of that other story, the story
of the Prodigal Son, and of his words: "I will arise and go to my father. .
. ." (Luke 15:18).
Hosea continues: "So, I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and
speak to her heart. From there I will give her the vineyard she had, and the
valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall respond there as in the days of
her youth (Hosea 2:16-17). . . . I will espouse you to me forever. I will
espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy (2:21). . . . And
I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to
them which were not my people, you are my people; and they shall say, You
are my God."
This crisis in God's love for His people and for mankind is the theme of the
book of Hosea. Neither Hosea nor God would admit defeat; they threatened
terrible calamities, they wept over betrayals and desertions, but all the
time they were waiting for the great reconciliation. Neither had any
illusions about vice and sin; they met it head on, face to face.
They blamed the priests: "My people perish for want of knowledge! Because
you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from my priesthood, since you
have ignored the law of your God, I will also ignore your sons (4:6). . . ."
After the priests they blamed the folly of the people: "My people ask
counsel at their stocks, and their staff declares to them." They blamed the
iniquity of the rulers: "The princes of Judah have become like those that
move a boundary line (5:10). . . . For I am like a lion to Ephraim, like a
young lion to the house of Judah" (5:14)
Nor were Hosea or God deceived by superficial repentance. In one of the
finest passages in the Old Testament, Hosea says: "For it is love that I
desire, not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings"
(6:6).
"Ephraim," says God, "is a hearth cake not turned (7:8). . . . a silly dove
without heart" (7:11). And yet: "How could I give you up, O Ephraim? . . . .
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my
blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; for I am God and not man"
(11:8-9).
And so the book of the prophet Hosea ends with the victory of love; and as
long as it is read, despair shall never triumph:
"I will heal their defection, I will love them freely, for my wrath is
turned away from them. I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom
like the lily, he shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, and put forth
his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree (14:5-7). . . .
Straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners
stumble in them (14:10) (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
Saint Quote:
Beware of trying to accomplish anything by force, for God has given every
single person free will and desires to constrain none; he merely shows them
the way, invites them and counsels them.
-Saint Angela Merici
Bible Quote:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Matthew
24:35)
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Indulgenced Prayers
We adore Thee, O Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in
all Thy churches that are in the whole world, and we bless
Thee; for by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Grant me Thy grace, most merciful Jesus, that it may be with
me and labour with me and continue with me unto the end.
Grant me always to will and desire that which is most
acceptable to Thee and which pleaseth Thee best.
Let Thy Will be mine, and let my will always follow Thine
and agree perfectly with it.
Let me always will or not will the same with Thee; and let me
not be able to will or not to will otherwise than as Thou willest
or willest not.
O Jesus, our Saviour, give us Thy blessing; deliver us from
eternal death; assist Thy holy Church; grant peace to all
nations; deliver the souls who are suffering in Purgatory.