Readings:
Hosea 10-14
John 16:1-15

Hosea 10-14

God continues his pronouncements of judgment against Israel for her many sins, but the one that keeps coming up is the idolatry she committed. For years they’ve worshiped Baal and other false gods, and the many small chastisements that have been sent by God have been essentially shrugged off. Now comes the wake up call.

God recounts the repeated rebellions by Israel, going back to the days in Egypt and to the patriarchs. He says that this time he’ll destroy them, but by bringing up past rebellions and the fact that they reconciled to God, he’s leaving open the possibility of reconciliation again if they’d just stop and repent.

The book ends with a final chapter imploring the people to cast aside the idols they’ve been worshiping and forsake the gods that they have been playing the harlot with, return with fasting and repentance to the God that brought them out of Egypt and sustained them all these years. If they do these things then he will forgive them and return them to their land. God’s mercy is always available to them and to us too.

John 16:1-15

Jesus tells them he’s giving these warnings so they loose heart. He even seems to foretell Saint Paul hunting down Christian as a righteous work for God in his mind.

He then reminds them of the promise of the Holy Spirit and how he must leave for him to send the spirit to guide them in the age to come.

Readings:
Nahum 1-3
John 16:16-17:26