Tenderness and love

Jul 09, 2026

Music Info

Beni soit le Christ & Psalm 114/115

By Keur Moussa

Offices du Dimanche Vol. 1 | Keur Moussa

Remaining (with marine eyes)

By Antarctic Wastelands

Worlds: Collide | Echoes Blue Music

Script

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Beni soit le Christ & Psalm 114/115

Keur Moussa

Today is Thursday the 9th of July, the feast of Saint Leo Ignatius Mangin, Saint Mary Zhu Wu and Companions, in the 14th week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Psalm 115: “I love the Lord, he hears my cry, he bends down to listen to me when I call” – words which paint a beautiful picture of God bending down to me like a mother or father bending down to their child, full of tenderness and love. As you listen, reflect for a moment on that ‘tender, loving care’ – that love that God has for you… can you also offer this love back to God?

3:07

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Hosea.

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9

When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

The more I called them,

the more they went from me;

they kept sacrificing to the Baals,

and offering incense to idols.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

I took them up in my arms;

but they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of human kindness,

with bands of love.

I was to them like those

who lift infants to their cheeks.

I bent down to them and fed them.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender.

I will not execute my fierce anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

for I am God and no mortal,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.

5:01

Remaining (with marine eyes)

Antarctic Wastelands

Imagine you are looking at a mother or a father with a very young child. Perhaps you can see a parent and child in front of you right now. If not, try and imagine it for a moment.

That is how Hosea paints the picture of the relationship between God and his people, here called “Israel” or “Ephraim”. God notices, even complains about their unfaithfulness, but that complaint is held in balance by his memories of loving Ephraim as a child. Some people carry a photograph around with them to remind them of someone they love, someone who loves them. Perhaps you do. Which person who loves you, or whom you love, does all this bring to mind?

Listen to the reading again; note how in the passage, God both lifts us up to his level and also comes down to our level.

8:18