From Conversion to Compassion

Author: Fr. Nelson Joy Antony
A Call to Return
Reflection Date: March 28, 2025 Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Daily Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34

Today’s readings invite us into a twofold movement: to return to God and to love as He loves. In the book of Hosea, the prophet calls Israel to return to the Lord: “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God!” (Hos 14:2). This return to God involves the conversion of the heart and the abandonment of false idols. God, full of love and mercy, promises to heal their unfaithfulness and restore them with His blessing. These words speak to us especially in this Lenten season: God awaits our return, ready to welcome us with love.

In the Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus' response is clear: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31). This double commandment sums up all the Law. Returning to God cannot happen without loving our neighbors.

Thus, our journey of faith must be marked by conversion and love. To convert is to reject modern idols of selfishness, consumerism, and indifference, and to place God at the center of our lives. To love is to recognize the presence of God in every person and to act with mercy. May these words encourage us today: God is waiting for us, He heals us, and He invites us to love fully.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: Just as God’s mercy is overflowing, we are called to show mercy to those around us. Let us practice compassion, reach out to those in need, and speak words of hope to those who are suffering.