THE ENDURING LOVE OF A TRUE FATHER FOR HIS CHILD (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 14TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9; Matthew 10:7-15

The enduring love of a true father for his child

Good morning dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, in the liturgy of the word today, the first reading from the Book of prophet Hosea reveals to us the unquantifiable love God has for his people; the enduring love of a true father for his child. It says: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:). It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms, I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I even bend down to them and fed them (Hosea 11:3-4). What a loving Father! 

Friends in Christ, God protected, nurtured, and provided for Israel as a father would for his son. However, Israel was so insensitive, rude and unresponsive. Israel would rather crave to go her way, abandoning the instructions of God. It says: “the more I called them the farther they went from me; they offered sacrifices to Baal and set their offerings smoking before the idols” (Hosea 11:).  Despite the sinfulness of Israel (Idolatory), God never gave up on her; God did not desert them nor did he allow his anger to blaze over them. His mercy and graciousness rested upon them. God says: “How can I give up on you Ephraim, how can I hand you over Israel, my heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger ” (Hosea 11:8-9).

Beloved in Christ, the ways of God are not the ways of man. Man, ordinarily would have foregone a wayward child and ungrateful child. Man would have divorced an adulterous wife or dismissed his friends and relative in anger if they forbid to follow his ways and instructions. But not with God. The love of God is boundless. 

In the Gospel reading, Jesus sent out the 12 apostles with the following instruction: “As you go, proclaim the good news, saying, the kingdom of God had come near you; cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons” (Mt 10:7-8). Jesus did not circumscribe evangelization to mean preaching alone but rather preaching and concrete pastoral care. The Holy Mother Church in living up to her evangelical mandate continues to engage in social and charitable works for the edification of God's people e.g hospitals, clinics, schools, rehabilitation centres, Old people's homes, retreat centres, libraries, laboratories etc. Through these pastoral and social works, the church continues to announce the presence of the kingdom of God in the world. 

People of God, let us kindly and responsibly reciprocate the unfathomable love of God upon us by concretely reaching out to our brothers and sisters who are in dire need of charity. Let us through this avenue reassure them that God's love forever endures. 

May God bless his words in our hearts. Amen 

Fr Remi osj