"O God, be merciful to me a sinner."

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s first reading is taken from the book of the prophet Hosea. The prophet’s personal story is one of the most moving stories of the Old Testament. Hosea is commanded by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer. God’s purpose was multi-dimensional. First, through Gomer’s infidelity to Hosea, God wanted the prophet to feel the pain of God who wept at the infidelity of Israel. Second, unlike a prostitute, God wanted Israel as a nation to vow themselves to “right, justice, love and mercy” (Hosea 2:21). It is in this context that we must understand the second part of the reading from Hosea where God says, “Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away.” Third, just as Hosea remained faithful his “wandering” wife, God wanted Israel to understand God’s fidelity to them. What was the Israel’s sin? Their sin can best be summarized in the attitude of the Pharisee in today’s gospel reading. The Pharisee was proud, self-righteousness and did not hesitate to humiliate another human person to raise his own status before God. In fact he thought that his salvation came from his own self-sufficiency rather than God’s grace. This is idolatry. Similarly, during Amos’ time, the wealthy pursued their own greedy ends, the powerful dabbled with dirty politics and the leaders led the people into idolatry.

Perhaps, now we can better appreciate the first part of the first reading today, when God says to the people of Israel,

“Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us…”

In many ways, that was the prayer of the tax collector in today’s gospel reading: ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ With the same attitude of the tax collector, let us pray today’s Psalm slowly and reverently.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
(Psalm 51)