Hosea 14:2-10 / Matthew 10:16-23
The feeling of being forgiven is a beautiful feeling.
There can be many words to describe it but the feeling is always more than words.
It is a beautiful feeling because it is essentially an experience of God's love and mercy.
It is also an experience of being healed and being freed from sin.
It is like coming back to God and living in His presence in peace and safety.
The 1st reading proclaims that those who repent will be forgiven and they will be so blessed that they won't be contented with just a nice and beautiful feeling.
In fact, they will bloom like the lily, thrust out roots like the poplar, be beautiful like olives, grow corn that flourishes and cultivate choice vines.
These are images of growth and fruitfulness.
The experience of God's love and forgiveness should lead us to grow in love and bear fruits of works of mercy.
Forgiveness is more than just a nice and beautiful feeling.
It is an experience of God's love that makes us want to be loving and fruitful in mercy and forgiveness.