It is 12th March 2021.
The readings are from Hosea 14:2-10; and the Gospel from Mark 12:28-34.
Lent is the time to be back to God. Everyone is expected to return to the Lord to experience God’s love. We are all eligible for God’s love no matter what was our past. Our proximity with God brings a lot of blessings in our lives. Coming closer to God is the proof of our repentance.
Our attachment with idols deprives the blessings we supposed to be enjoying at this point of time in our life. What are the idols we secretly worship that make us to be far from God?
“I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.” (Hos.14:8). The prophet Hosea presents us with the positive and powerful love of God as ever green and deeply rooted. To become aware of God’s unconditional and non-judgemental love in us and others is the main task of the Lent.
The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “I am the Lord your God: listen to my voice.”
Jesus answers a teacher of law by filtering the entire law into two. Commandment of love precedes every other law. Without loving God and experiencing the love of God, we are incapable of loving others. The source and origin of love is God from whom we have power to love others. Without loving others, it impossible to worship God. Whenever we are far from our neighbours, we tend to forget God. We need constantly watch our attachments to idols such as materialism, individualism, and secularism.
‘To love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbour as oneself,’. this is much more important that all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mk.12:33). Our love for God is much due. Everything in us need to be directed in loving God while we need to care for the other as we care for ourselves. What we need for God is adoring love while we need adorning love towards the other. Consistent acknowledging of the image of God in others, we come closer to God in loving. May we truly and genuinely love others as we are committed to love God. Have a lovely day. God bless you.