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 bef...