Word to the Wise
Monday, July 8, 2024 - Monday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22 and Matt 9:18-26]I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.....I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord. [Hosea]
The prophecy of Hosea contrasts sharply with that of Amos that we heard last week. The contrast is between stern justice in Amos to merciful steadfastness in Hosea. The striking image in Hosea is that of marriage - the marriage between God and Israel. Hosea was commanded by God to marry Gomer who became unfaithful and gradually fell into prostitution and slavery. Amos focused on the inexorable punishment of God because the northern kingdom had adopted Canaanite religion into their faith, seeing Yahweh as equivalent to Baal who guaranteed fertility. A principal practice of this was in temple prostitution!!!
Hosea expresses God's plea to Israel to return to faithfulness and mercy. The corruption and injustice that were rampant in the northern kingdom would only end when the Assyrians destroyed the area in 722 BC. Hosea's pleas on behalf of God went unanswered.
The loss of faithfulness in a marriage or even in a close friendship can be terrible. It takes more than verbal assurances to repair. It requires right conduct and concrete behavior that aim at restoration. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a "firm purpose of amendment" is required. This means more than verbal assurance. It means taking definite steps to show that repentance is true and lasting. Mercy needs more than words to be effective. Hosea's wife would not give up her wayward conduct. Israel (the northern kingdom) lost everything.
In certain traditions of religious life, the vows have been seen as marital vows, creating a relationship with God that requires the same kind of faithfulness as marriage. But this need not be confined to religious life. Our baptism is, in effect, our wedding with God. No matter how far we stray in our relationship, God will be ready to take us back. But, we will be held accountable and restoration will require effort. Hosea (and God) are calling us back. AMEN