Oh Lord, Be Our Guide!

Friday of the 3rd week of Lent 

Hosea 14:2-10
Mark 12:28-34

Beloved in Christ, scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. There is always the temptation of making our choices without seeking first the divine wisdom and will.

In today’s first reading, the Lord is calling His people back to Himself and reminding them that when they seek help that it is He who gives it. God assures them that He loves them unconditionally and that He will shower His blessings on them despite their offenses and seeking their ways.

In today’s gospel, Jesus makes it clear that love of God and love of neighbour are two sides of the same coin. He quotes from the Old Testament, or the Jewish Scriptures, from the Book of Deuteronomy, which reminds his listeners of the covenants made with God and of their failure to live by it even in the simplest of things.

If we live by the command of love then we will have no problem in keeping all the Commandments. Let us reflect on what makes it difficult for us to love others, and pray for the grace of healing and the strength to overcome these obstacles that prevent us from loving God, others and ourselves as fully as God wills of us.

What does love mean to me? Am I able to love someone with all my being, thinking more of her/him than myself just as God wants it? Do I see that God’s love for me enables me to give of myself to another person? May God purify our intentions so that whatever we do may always be done out of love. Amen.

PRAYER

Righteous Father, we thank you for showing us how to love you and our neighbors through the perfect obedience of your Son Jesus Christ. May my obedience to your will and the love of my neighbor bring peace and joy into our lives. May he give us the strength to be obedient till the end. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho