Friday, March 29, 2019
Today, in Mercy, Hosea, the composer of passionate love songs, tells us this:
I will heal your weaknesses, says the LORD,
I will love you freely;
for my wrath is turned away.
I will be like the dew for you:
you shall blossom like the lily;
You shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth your shoots.
Your splendor shall be like the olive tree
and your fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again you shall dwell in the shade
and raise grain;
You shall blossom like the vine,
and your fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
The passage sings of new life, strength, vigor – the hope of Easter! Today as we pray, what withering branches in our lives do we wish to place in the warmth of this promise?
In our Gospel, the good scribe asks for Jesus’s confirmation that he is on the right track to holiness. Jesus blesses him by saying:
You are not far from the kingdom of God
God is so good to us. Let us ask God’s generous help as we seek to grow in holiness, goodness and peace this Lent, so that we may be blessed by the same promises.
Music: Good to Me – Audrey Assad
Lavish Mercy 
The restoration of the Israelites is analogous to our restoration to God’s grace after we may have backslid. Lent is like a sojourn in the wilderness where we can be removed from the vain allurements of this world to draw much closer to God and be perfected even more in His grace by acts of penance and self-denial for the sake of His love and goodness towards us.
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Amen! Thanks, Renee! ❤️🙏
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