Unrequited Love
The Prophet Hosea speaks of God’s unending love for his unfaithful people and his desire to be reconciled
with them with these words:
“I will allure her; I will lead her into the
desert and speak to her heart.”
HOSEA 2:16
The season of Lent draws much from the desert imagery that is so deeply
immersed throughout our Sacred Scripture. And, so at the very mention of the
word “Lent”, for instance, we recall the journey of the Israelites from Egypt
to the Promised Land, a journey from slavery to freedom. And we are mindful of
how Jesus withdrew to the desert to discern God’s Will for him as read in
today’s gospel.
Yet, the words from Hosea cast another light on desert experiences: they are a time of solitude, a time of
intimacy, of knowing and becoming known. God calls those he loves into a place
of solitude so that we can enter into a deeper relationship with him and,
through his Mystical Body, into a deeper relationship with one another.
Yes, Lent is about discovery, an awakening of just how incomplete our lives
have become separated from our Beloved. These next six weeks give us the chance
to see just how far we have fallen out of relationship with God and provide us
the opportunity to seek to make things right.
But least we think that we are left on our own to do all the work, recall
the beautiful words from Hosea and remember who it is who entices us into this
desert journey, God himself. It is God who desires us to seek him; it is God
who calls us into relationship with him; it is God who desires to be our all in
all, our Beloved; and it is God who is desperate for us to love him in return.
May God bless all your Lenten efforts to draw near to him. May he bless
abundantly your Seeking Heart.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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