Thursday 9 July 2020

Today is Thursday the 9 July in the 14th week of Ordinary Time.  

The community of Taizé sing Gott ist nur Liebe. ‘God is nothing but love.  Dare to give all for love.  Give yourselves without fear.’  

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Hosea.  

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
   and out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
   the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals,
   and offering incense to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
   I took them up in my arms;
   but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
   with bands of love.
I was to them like those
   who lift infants to their cheeks.
   I bent down to them and fed them.
How can I give you up, Ephraim?
   How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
   How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
   my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my fierce anger;
   I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and no mortal,
   the Holy One in your midst,
   and I will not come in wrath.

There is nothing that we can do to prevent God from continuing to love us.  How does this passage express God’s undying love for us? Did any words or phrase stand out to you in particular?  

The language of this passage perhaps paints us a more motherly picture of God… Does this speak to you at all? In what way? Or, why not?  

Now listen once more to the reading, and ask: are there signs here of a tender and loving God?  

Finally, try and gather the thoughts and feelings that are coming to you, and see if you can express them as a prayer to God.  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.