Hosea, like all the other prophets, lays it on the line in today’s first reading. The bigger and more prosperous Israel got, the further they fell away from God. More on Hosea’s message in a moment. In Matthew 10, we see the list of the Twelve, and Jesus’ command for them to proclaim, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Israel had become too big for her breeches. And the time was coming to pay the price. Hosea says, “Their heart is false, now they pay for their guilt.” But, like every good prophet, he gives them an alternative. It doesn’t have to be this way!! Listen to his beautiful advice…”Sow for yoursleves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the Lord.”
I hope that we sometimes feel like the prophets of old. As we look at the moral deterioration of our society and the coming punishment, we, too, should be shouting, “It doesn’t have to be this way! It is time to seek the Lord!!” And, like all good prophets, we need to be living out the words we speak. Are we truly seeking the Lord?
Father, we seek you. We long to see your face. Help us to be good prophets…to speak your word and to live out the message. Amen.
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