At first sight, suffering may seem to be an entirely negative experience, even a destructive experience. In the long history of human suffering, however, there is plenty of evidence to show that suffering can lead to deeper insight, deeper wisdom. Today we read a passage from the Prophet Hosea in which he reflects on God's love. Hosea came to his profound understanding of God's love through his own experience, an experience of great suffering. Without that experience of suffering, it is not likely that the Book of Hosea would exist.

Usually we read today's passage as a description of "God's fatherly, forgiving love", as the commentary in one Missal puts it. However, there are other ways to read the text, and one feminist theologian suggests that we have here a reflection on God's motherly love. Embracing a child, raising a child to one's cheek, feeding a child - these expressions all appear to be more feminine than masculine.

God's fatherly love and motherly love are both important in our Christian religious experience, for, in the words of the Psalmist, both keep us constant and unafraid, as we know the Lord is our strength and courage: strength from God's fatherly love, courage from God's motherly love.