July 08, Monday: Who/what is my Baal?
Fourteenth Week in ordinary time
Hosea 2: 16,17-18,21-22; Matthew 9: 18-26
People of Israel are under God’s judgement, it is a
disgrace and deprivation for the chosen people. However, God will never forsake
His beloveds, He promises restoration and renewal of relationship through
prophet Hosea. Prophet Hosea was a prophet to northern kingdom of Israel. He
declared God’s judgement for breaking the covenant. In announcing God’s
judgement, Hosea uses a marriage covenant symbol as a symbol of God’s covenant
with Israel. God has been faithful to His people, but His beloveds have broken
their commitment and went after other ‘lovers’ – Baals. Today, we too go after
many Baals; power, money, position, fame, pleasure, ego, other gods and
goddesses.
God can not give up on us:
God is constantly in search of human beings. He has loved us with an everlasting
love. For God, loving people is not a temporary entertainment, nor an
vocational activity. It is a commitment for ever. God repeats three times, ‘I
espouse you’ in Hosea 2: 19-20. The threefold repetition is an expression of
his intensity and intimacy. God is going to allure our hearts, take control of
our hearts. God is preoccupied in loving us.
God restores the relationship:
God promises to restore the broken relationship despite our unfaithfulness to Him.
Restoration is a sign of blessing and abundance. He offers safety and hope by offering
the vineyard and valley. There will no longer be valley of trouble or
temptation. The betrothal will be forever, God will not allow any Baal to break
the bond. God becomes the master of the restored relationship.
1. Who/what are my Baals? Whom am I faithful to? Who
is the priority of my love?
2. God does not give up on me. He is constantly busy
loving people. Does that mean I can be a wayward?
3. God restores relationship to abundance of blessing
and hope. God becomes the master of our relationship. Is God the master of my relationship?
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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