Friday of the Third Week of Lent March 4, 2005 Scripture: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28C-34 Reflection: Since the Tsunami disaster of December, 2004 which overwhelmed millions of people, we have focused our prayers and charity on strangers in distant lands. It is a challenge to our faith to trust in the loving God who says in Hosea: “I will love them with all my heart,” and “I will fall like dew on them.” The historic rains, snows, and mud slides; tornadoes and hurricanes, and the horrible destruction of the Tsunami cannot be that “gentle dew” falling which the Lord promised. “Why?” We do not know, but we search for answers. In Hosea the Lord asks, “What do you have to do with idols any more when it is God who hears our prayer and cares for us?” Is a Tsunami enough to shake us from whatever has replaced God in small or great ways in our lives; or to shake the idols of power, wealth, pornography, and selfish satisfaction in abuse of others? Mark reminds us of Jesus’ message: the greatest commandment is to love God above all. As religious we affirm the primacy of God as the object of our love. Do we take back any part of this commitment in exchange for lesser goods? As religious we also witness love for one another, not just at crisis times, but in our daily anticipation of others’ needs. During these Lenten days we remember that “love is better than sacrifice” and we ponder on what our world could be like if we truly love one another. Suggested Action: Pray to the Holy Spirit for a deeper love of God and the grace to see His presence, not just in the Tsunami, but in other persons. Sr. Michel Keenan, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania