12 March 2021, Friday FIRST READING "We will no longer say to the work of our hands: 'You are our God'" Reading from the book of the prophet Hosea (14, 2-10)

12 March 2021, Friday 

FIRST READING 

"We will no longer say to the work of our hands: 'You are our God'" 

Reading from the book of the prophet Hosea (14, 2-10) 

Thus says the Lord: Return, Israel, to the Lord your God; because you have collapsed as a result of your faults. Return to the Lord by presenting these words to Him: "Take away all faults, and accept what is good." Instead of bulls, we sacrifice the words of our lips to you. Since the Assyrians cannot save us, we will no longer ride on horses, and we will no longer say to the work of our hands: “You are our God”, for from you alone the orphan receives tenderness. "

This is the Lord's answer: I will heal them of their unfaithfulness, I will love them with free love, for my anger is turned away from Israel. I will be like dew to Israel, it will flower like the lily, it will spread its roots like the trees of Lebanon. Its young shoots will grow, its finery will be like that of the olive tree, its perfume, like that of the forest of Lebanon. They will return to sit in its shade, they will revive the wheat, they will flourish like the vine, they will be renowned like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim! Can you confuse me with idols? It is I who answer you and look at you. I am like the evergreen cypress, it is I who give you your fruit.

Who then is wise enough to understand these things, penetrating enough to understand them? Yes, the ways of the Lord are straight: the righteous walk in them, but sinners stumble there. 

The Word of the Lord.

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