His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden;they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. From Hosea 14:2-10, NRSV The Book of Hosea ends with an…
Read more
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.The more I called them, the more they went from me;they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.I was to them like those who lift infants…
Read more
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground;for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. From Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12, NRSV The prophet Hosea continues to foretell the downfall of the Kingdom of Israel as a consequence of their sinfulness. However, although they cannot escape…
Read more
Though they offer choice sacrifices, though they eat flesh, the Lord does not accept them.Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. From Hosea 8:4-7,11-13, NRSV In today’s reading, we hear the prophet Hosea describing the sins of the Kingdom of Israel and foretelling the punishment they will undergo. They…
Read more
On that day, says the Lord, you will call me, ‘My husband’, and no longer will you call me, ‘My Baal’. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. Hosea 2:16,17,21-22, NRSV Like many of the prophets, Hosea did not have an easy…
Read more
For thus says the Lord:I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees.As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. From Isaiah 66:10-14,…
Read more
The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land;not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east;they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they…
Read more
The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land;not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east;they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but they…
Read more
Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”‘Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. From Amos 7:10-17, NRSV It is not surprising…
Read more
About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. From Acts 12:1-11, NRSV Today we honour the lives of the apostles Peter and Paul…
Read more
