Our first reading today is from the end book of the prophet Hosea. The book of Hosea leads us through the history of salvation in the form of a metaphor. In it we come to understand that salvation consists of three simple steps. 1) We sin and are unfaithful to God. 2) Our sin leads to our suffering, the consequence of our sin. 3) God steps in and with his saving redemption. This word redemption comes from the Latin, redemptio, meaning to pay back, or pay the ransom. Our salvation is based in God's desire to pay the debt that we owe, so that we can be set free. The book of Hosea is one tender and challenging metaphor for God's willingness to redeem us. I guess we should not then be surprised to know that Hosea's name means "salvation". In this holy season of lent, may we take to heart what the Lord says to Israel, "I will heal their defection... I will love them freely." In the end, it is really all about Love. God's love for us and our response, to Love God and to love our neighbor.