Return to the Lord your God!
The goal of Lent is the return to God, because we are distant from him. Lent offers us an opportunity through prayer, penance and almsgiving to make this return to God with all our hearts (Joel 2:12). Above all, we must turn away from our idols. The message of the Prophet Hosea thus consists of reassuring the people who have turned away from God by giving themselves over to idols that God's love is faithful. The prophet will marry Ghoma, the famous prostitute to demonstrate that God is ready to renew his love towards his people without conditions. This is exactly what the Lord will do. He will heal their infidelity, he will love them with a free love; he will make them blossom like the lily, and will be the spring of living water.
This is only possible if the people will make God their first choice... Loving God with all one's heart, with all one's soul therefore becomes the path to happiness. This love is reflected on a daily basis by the love of our brothers and sisters.
Turning resolutely to Lord implies detachment from everything that prevents us from loving God with all our hearts.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac