Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Again, in the Psalm and the Gospel of today we have the Lord calling to us: “I am the Lord your God: hear my voice” and “Hear, O Israel!” Throughout the history of God’s Chosen People, they cry out to God and He hears them. He heard their cry in Egypt. He heard their pleas in the desert. He listened to the prayers of Moses, the Judges, the Prophets.
In all these times of need, the people cried out and God answered them. Now in His great Love, God cries out to His People. And will we hear Him? If we do allow the Lord to speak to us, what will we hear? We will hear promises of forgiveness and love. “I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. I will be like the dew for Israel…” (Hosea 14:5-6) We will hear of the gentle yoke of Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 30-31) May the words of that voice enter deeply into our hearts!