July 08, Monday: Who/what is my Baal? - Wilson SVD
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.
Our Takeaway
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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