







© Michele L. Catanese
* Remember, the writer is personifying God because there is no other way to communicate the depth of God’s love. The truth of the matter is that our sin ‘hurts’ God because He loves us. It does not diminish God, but it diminishes our relationship with Him.
Note: Next post, Sunday, September 9.
Images:
1. This painting of the prophet Hosea was done by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1308-11). It is located in the Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy.
2. All the photos in this post are mine; the one here is a sunset over the Badlands of North Dakota. I chose it to symbolize Gomer and her lover heading for the hills, leaving Hosea behind. I wanted a beautiful picture, however, to remind us that Hosea remained in love with her and considered their covenant binding no matter what she did.
3. I took this picture in South Dakota and chose to use it because the exterior of the tree looked healthy, yet it was rotted on the inside, seemingly the cause of its fall. It seems that Israel was suffering from a similar ailment during the time of Hosea: they thought they were healthy and appeared to be so, but they were rotting on the inside and were destined to fall.
4. This icon by Fr. William Hart McNichols is called Jesus Christ Holy Forgiveness. It seemed appropriate to place it here because God was continually telling the people that He loved them and wanted to draw them back with cords of love. One could say that when Jesus hung on the Cross He was "bound" by love and tremendous forgiveness for the sins of the world. You can find this icon at http://frbillmcnichols-sacredimages.com/featured/jesus-christ-holy-forgiveness-040-william-hart-mcnichols.html.
5. I took this photo while hiking on Copper Mountain in Copper, Colorado, a few years ago. It seems to offer an easier path, but the lure of that which is easier is often a deceptive one. Cultivating a faith life and living as a prophetic witness takes a bit of work and is far from the easy road, but it is worth the effort since the goal is God.
6. This is a Catholic Church outside of Dallas, Texas. I wanted a representation of a community of faith as a reminder of the importance of fellowship and as an example of living as disciples.
7. This painting depicts the Corporal Works of Mercy outlined in Matthew 25. I chose to use it here because it is a beautiful example of how to make our faith visible through humble service.
8. I took this photo in the Boston Gardens. I chose it for the end of the post because of the reflection of the trees on the water as a symbol of us mirroring the love of God. I also liked the two people on the bench in the left corner as a sign of community.
NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.