Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Hosea 9: A Prayer of Return to God
![lovehands[1]](https://thenoontimes.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/lovehands1.jpg?w=300&h=199)
We have spent time with this prophet for much of the week and we have allowed ourselves to be open to a flood of emotions. When we consider the story of Hosea and Gomer we experience the depth and breadth of God’s patience, fidelity and love. On this third Sunday in Lent we are invited to be frank about when and how we play Gomer to God’s Hosea. We are also invited to consider the depth and breadth of Christ’s sacrifice; we are called to sink into the profundity and intensity of the Spirit’s consolation. With God there is always an opportunity to return.
Israel becomes the harlot when she wanders from the covenant she had entered into with Yahweh. She oppresses the poor and adores idols; the mechanical offering of holocausts by her priests has become a false worship. Israel’s prophets warn her of the consequences of her infidelity, but she continues to ignore these admonitions. She leaves behind the gift of Exodus when Yahweh brought her out of captivity to a world of freedom. She scoffs at the notion that a future exile will again enslave her. And the longer she remains away from Yahweh, the more difficult – and useless – she sees the road of return. And in her headlong desire to do precisely as she likes, she sends herself into her own loveless and dreadful exile. If only she might return . . .
While Israel flirts with cataclysm and ignores all signs of warning, Yahweh abides and calls. Yahweh hopes and prepares. Yahweh waits and loves.
While Gomer gives herself to any who would have her in order to feel the quick rush of easy pleasure, Hosea abides and calls. Hosea hopes and prepares. Hosea waits and loves.
Hosea sees this parallel and so must we. And while Hosea aches for his lost love and yearns for Israel to return to her true role as Yahweh’s spouse, Yahweh waits for Israel to return. And so does God call and wait on us today.
And so we pray . . .
Good and patient God, we see ourselves in Gomer when we forget to visit with you each day. Renew in us a desire to be faithful to you.
Good and constant God, we see ourselves in Gomer when we are easily lured away from you. Renew in us a willingness to put aside the quick charms of a self-centered life.
Good and tender God, we see ourselves in Gomer when we refuse to see the depths of your love. Renew in us our understanding of your mercy, a willingness to persist through our doubt, and an eagerness to put everything aside for you.
Good and ever-present God, we see ourselves in Gomer when we fail to return to you. Renew our strength, renew our courage, renew our faith, renew our hope, renew our love, and renew our all . . . so that we might return to you.
Amen.
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