Wednesday 10 July 2024

Today is Wednesday 10 July in the 14th week of Ordinary Time. The choir of Portsmouth Cathedral sing Psalm 42 – Like as the Hart desireth the waterbrooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God. Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? My tears have been my meat day and night: while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God? Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself: for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God; In the voice of praise and thanksgiving: among such as keep holy-day. Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me? Put thy trust in God: for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance. My God, my soul is vexed within me: therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon. One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes: all thy waves and storms are gone over me. The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the day-time: and in the night-season did I sing of him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me: why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me? My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword: while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth; Namely, while they say daily unto me: Where is now thy God? Why art thou so vexed, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me? O put thy trust in God: for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God. Today’s reading is from the Prophet Hosea. Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Israel is a luxuriant vine  that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased  the more altars he built; as his country improved,  he improved his pillars. Their heart is false;  now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars,  and destroy their pillars. For now they will say:  ‘We have no king, for we do not fear the Lord,  and a king—what could he do for us?’ Samaria’s king shall perish  like a splinter on the face of the waters. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,  shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up  on their altars. They shall say to the mountains, Cover us,  and to the hills, Fall on us. 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. This passage holds a lot of imagery for us to imagine. Has anything stayed with you in particular from this reading? Sit and ponder that for a moment… “It is time to seek the Lord”. When is it “time to seek the Lord”? When is it not time to do so? Now listen as the passage is read to you once more. Notice the final instructions of the passage… how do these speak to you? “…for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Perhaps it is time for you to seek the Lord about something… spend this closing time talking to God, approaching as one friend might approach another about whatever this has prompted in you… Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.