Iniquity Is Darkness

In God alone is salvation.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 3rd Week of Lent B, March 8th, 2024
Texts: Hosea 14:1-9; Psalm 81:6,8-11,14,117; Mark 12:28-34 

God tells us, today, that we stumble because of our iniquity. We stumble because iniquity is darkness. The light of our lives goes off as we continue to sin. What does the stumble mean? It means we never do things right in iniquity. Iniquity makes us go the wrong way. When we live in sin, our decisions are wrong and not edifying.  

Hence, God says, "Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God, to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy." God asks us to return to Him because iniquity makes us stray away from God. Confessing our sins and renouncing them is returning to God. We cannot claim to return to God when we still hold on to our iniquity.

In God alone is salvation

Returning to God also entails that we rely on Him alone for salvation and give up idolatry. In God alone is salvation; He is the only true God. Hence, He asks us to declare, “Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God, to the work of our hands.” This brings to mind the words of the psalm: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (121:1-2). 

God promises us healing and His love when we confess and renounce our sins. He puts it thus: “I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.” He also promises us His grace and a flourishing life. In His words: “I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, he shall strike root as the poplar” 

We praise the Lord for His grace and mercy

What do we do when we return to the Lord? We praise the Lord for His grace and mercy. We read, “we will render the fruit of our lips.” Jesus tells us it is to love God and our neighbours. He says, "The first is, Hear, O Israel: The  Lord our God, the  Lord is one; and you shall love the  Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” 

Prayer 

Pour your grace into our hearts, we pray, O Lord, that we may be constantly drawn away from unruly desires and obey by your own gift the heavenly teaching you give us. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke