Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent
First reading Hosea 5:15-6:6
On this Saturday of the third week of Lent, the prophet Hosea invites us into a deeper examination of our hearts: “What I want is love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts.” These words are a powerful reminder that God does not delight in ritual for its own sake, nor is He moved by outward displays of piety if they are not rooted in sincere love and a desire to know Him. Our love for God is not meant to be like the morning cloud or the dew that vanishes with the first heat of day—beautiful perhaps, but shallow and short-lived. Lent is not merely about fasting, ashes, or giving things up; it is about returning to the Lord with a whole and undivided heart. It is about letting go of the illusion that we can earn God’s favor through performance, and instead embracing the truth that God desires a living relationship with us. When we love with steadfastness, when we seek Him with a hunger to know Him more intimately, our actions naturally become offerings that please Him—not because of their perfection, but because of the love from which they spring. Let us reflect: Lent is moving beyond superficial devotion to a real love to God which permeates in all our actions.
Don Giorgio