The people of Hosea's time were cheating on God. They were involved in spiritual adultery. They chose the wrong leaders (Hos 8:4), mismanaged their resources "to their own destruction" (Hos 8:4), reaped the whirlwind (Hos 8:7), and ignored God's word (Hos 8:12). This national self-destruction was due to the sin of spiritual adultery, which was partly due to a lack of knowledge (Hos 4:6). When a spouse lacks a personal knowledge of their mate, he or she is more likely to commit adultery.

We live in a culture of death, in circumstances regrettably similar to those of Hosea's times. "Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished" from our speech (Jer 7:28). Nevertheless, this is the year of the Great Jubilee. The Lord is doing something new (Is 43:19). The culture of death is finally putting itself to death, and a remnant of faithful Christians is getting to know the Lord in a deep and personal way. They are building the new civilization of life and love, prophesied by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Are you going to die in your sins of spiritual adultery (see Jn 8:21, 24), or are you returning to your first Love, Jesus Christ? (see Rv 2:4)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 16, 1999

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 1999