“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”

Proud Pharisee—and the Tax Collector.

Jesus indicates that it is this humble

acknowledgement of sin that God justifies.

Not the boastful prayers of the righteous,

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Hosea 6:1-6

Come,

 “HOPE EVERY THING FROM THE MERCY OF GOD;

IT IS BOUNDLESS AS HIS POWER

 　　　　　　　　　　　　　—Saint Frances of Rome

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Kings 5:1-15b*

Naaman was the army

 Because God is the source of love,

one must love Him to truly understand how to love others.

The two commandments are linked,

with love for neighbor serving as a natural extension of loving God.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Hosea 14:2-10

Return to your God,

Spiritual refreshment, eternal life, and the inward transformation.

Streams of living water, sharing the love and grace of Jesus with the world.

" Give me this water, that I may never be thirsty, 

and never have to come here to draw water."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Exodus 17:3-7

But the people

Calling upon the name of Jesus in times of distress

Verbally call out "Lord Jesus, help me!".

Calling in the day of trouble leads to rescue

and an opportunity to honor God.

It is an act of faith, shifting reliance from self to God's .

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jeremiah 7:23-28

One thing

 Love at Our Lowest: Even in brokenness or when feeling undeserving,

God’s affection remains steadfast.

God loves and embraces individuals despite their unworthines. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people

A balanced approach avoids legalism by emphasizing that faith and grace,

rather than rigid rule-following or outward performance,

are the basis for a relationship with God. It moves away from focusing on "law-keeping"

and instead focuses on internal transformation, love, and mercy.
   

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

And now,

 The wicked farmers leasing a vineyard who beat and kill

the landowner's servants and son to steal the inheritance.

The landowner represents God, the vineyard represents Israel or the Kingdom of God,

and the tenants represent (chief priests, Pharisees).

The owner (God) removes the tenants and gives the vineyard to others who will produce fruit.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a*

Now Israel

 The "Beam in the Eye" People who struggle to forgive

are often unaware of their own faults.

 This spiritual amnesia leads to a self-righteous attitude,

 where one becomes blind to their own need for mercy. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Daniel 3:25, 34-43*

Do not abandon us forever;

 Jesus says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."

But who is he referring to as "the least of these?"

The rich man, become blind to the struggles of the poor and marginalized.

The chief sin of the rich man was not his wealth.

The irony is that the rich man, endowed with abundant resources, could have helped many.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jeremiah 17:5-10

This is what the Lord says,