All Because of You

 Hos 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

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:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
“I am like a verdant cypress tree”–
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

 

This is the first reading for Mass today. I have to admit, I often avoid the writing about the old testament because unless you spend years studying theology we often don't understand it! There are so many prophesies and links to the new testament and hidden meanings, I never really know in what context I should be reading it. But today this one has a special meaning to me. God says that He will heal us, even though we have collapsed, he will pick us back up, and not only restore us to our original state but even bring us to splendor! "Because of me you bear fruit!" How true that is! This morning for devotion at work the reading was from 2 Cor. 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  It is so easy to forget when we are struggling or feeling inadequate that those are the perfect moments for our God to show his greatness. It is in the most difficult moments of my life, my biggest mistakes, my greatest failings and my most challenging struggles that he has done his greatest work, and has been glorified because of it.

 

Father, thank you for the constant reminder that your grace is sufficient. There is nothing else in this entire world that I need, and I know that because of You and ONLY because of you I will bear fruit. Apart from you I am nothing, I am broken into pieces, collapsed to the ground, but because of you I blossom like the vine. Thank you for your continued grace! I can find joy even in the darkest days because of it.