In today’s First Reading the Lord reminds us that he envisions his relationship with Israel as a marriage covenant. When Israel strays in worshiping Baal instead of the Lord, Our Lord’s love and fidelity to Israel do not diminish in the slightest, despite Israel’s “adultery.” He does not leave this marriage on the rocks. Through Hosea he describes his desire to take Israel to someplace quiet where they can be alone and he can help his spouse to fall in love with him again and to never let the rival lover, “Baal,” cross her lips or her thoughts again.
Even today Our Lord sees his relationship with us, his Spouse the Church, in terms of a marriage covenant. Great spiritual masters of the Church have described a life of holiness as striving for a spiritual matrimony between the soul and God. That implies loving no one in our life the same way we love the Lord.
If we feel a little estranged from Our Lord, let’s go with him into the “desert,” the solitude of our heart, and let him breathe life back into our relationship. As Paul reminds us, nothing can separate us from the love of God. He will always welcome us back into his loving embrace.
Readings: Hosea 2:16, 17c–18, 21–22; Psalm 145:2–9; Matthew 9:18–26. See also 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B and 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Monday.