Prophet Hosea in the first reading, presents Yahweh as a merciful God who is inviting Israel to turn from her ways and return to the virtuous path. Likewise, the scribe in the Gospel, unlike other scribes whom we hear in the Gospel attempting to trap Jesus, proved to be one who had understood the law and remained in the virtuous path. He recognized the need to love God and to love men, the central religious experience that Israel was called to "capture."

Turning away from sin, repentance, coming back to the Lord, are among the many words that are frequently heard during the season of Lent. We recognize our own failings and our short-comings and in the midst of our own struggle to remain faithful to the Lord, we neglect the communitarian dimension of our faith. Just as Jesus gives us the command to love God and neighbour, we must strive to live our faith experience in the community that we live in. Our love for God must lead us to a greater love for our neighbour. Let this season of Lent be a time for not only restoring our relationship with God, but also a time to solidify our relationship with one another in our community.