I want to begin by telling you a story of a man whose life was changed and used as an example by God. This man was a prophet, and God called him to tell people that they needed to turn back to Him. However, God then not only told this man to get married, but who he should marry. The man did this, but sadly after a time his wife became a prostitute, and the man, after begging his wife to change, eventually ended his relationship with her. After a time the man went to his wife and asked if she was able and willing to change. She was, and the man took her back. The woman had experienced a difficult and painful time without her husband.
The man was called Hosea and his wife was called Gomer. God used Hosea and his life as an example to the people to whom Hosea was preaching. The people had enjoyed a good relationship with God, but like Gomer turning away from Hosea, they had turned away from God. They could be accepted back if they changed their ways. In the time they were away from God, they had lost their land. God was ready to accept them back.
Our Old Testament reading this morning came from the writings of Hosea. In this reading we heard of what would happen to the people of Ephraim and Judah. These were the people whom God had led out of Egypt. They are also known as the Israelites in the Old Testament. The final verse of the passage from this morning gives us all great advice. We learn that God wants His followers to love Him, and to come to know Him.
This is the same for us as well. God wants us to respond to His love by loving Him and wanting to know more about Him.
This sounds quite doable to us. To respond to God's love by following and loving Him, by putting Him first. We are probably rather pleased that He hasn’t called us to act out His message in the same way as Hosea.
In the reading from Romans (4:13-25) we were reminded not only of God's love for us, but also the freedom we can enjoy because of His love. In the past people had needed to keep to certain religious laws to enjoy a relationship with God. In the reading from Romans the writer, probably Paul, wrote that we can enjoy a relationship with God by being put right with Him through faith. This is what is reckoned to us, what is given to us by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have a free gift. God's love for us, a love that accepts us. When we turn to God and confess our sins, He forgives us and welcomes us into a relationship with Him.
We can freely receive God's love and pass that love on to others. The gospel reading this morning (Matthew 9:9-13:18-16) reminded me of a visit I made with a Bishop to a primary school. The children were quite excited to see the Bishop. At lunchtime a little girl asked me if the man dressed in the purple robe was real. She kept looking at him, and asked if she could touch him. I said yes, and I could introduce her. She thought about this for a moment and then told me that, if the Bishop would like to meet her, she would be in her classroom.
In the gospel reading there were three stories of healing. The one was a woman who had suffered from haemorrhaging, and she thought that even if she touched the cloak of Jesus she would be healed. This did happen; good job she didn’t leave a message for Jesus telling Him when she would be available, as the little girl did in the school. The woman had faith that Jesus could heal.
After this Jesus went to a home to see a girl who was very ill. The people were so convinced the girl was dead that they had called the professional mourners. Jesus completely surprised the people by raising this girl and making her well.
The third healing was right at the beginning of the reading; it is Jesus calling Matthew to follow Him. This is a healing because Matthew would have been seen as outside of society because he was a tax collector. By Jesus calling him, Matthew was being welcomed back into community. Like the woman and the girl, he could be part of society again.
God's love was shown in His accepting back the people who had turned away from Him, as shown through the life of Hosea. His love is shown in enabling us to enter into a relationship with Him just by accepting and responding to His love. His love in bringing people back to health.
This love is incredible. Sadly, in the gospel there was a response of questioning rather than accepting. The Pharisees, who were a group watching and judging behaviour, felt that Jesus should not be with sinners. Jesus pointed out that it was sinners who needed Him the most.
I absolutely love this, God in His love offers everyone who confesses their sins and need of Him forgiveness and acceptance. God loves us all, and all He wants of us is that we live like Him. That we offer mercy, that we follow Him. It is actually all quite easy really.
There is a modern hymn called Reckless Love; the words in it explain the invitation of God to turn to Him. Some of the words are,
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away.
The love of God really can seem reckless at times. God loves each one of us, and He wants us to love Him. To follow Him, and to want to spend time with Him.
This can be in prayer at Church, or prayer on our own. God loves us, and He gives everything for us. It is reckless, but it is also a constant love for us. A love that it is worth us telling others about. We might do this when we are asked about our faith, or maybe by the way that we live. This accepting, and healing love is something to give thanks for and to live our lives for. May this be our response. AMEN
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