Page 106 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

are there to restrain the presence of deep love with his wife, he went into
vengeance among humankind. the street in search of his wife. He was
compelled to give money to the men so
Compassion, mercy and forgiveness that they may free his wife.
in family life
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Marriage is a perpetual union between Unfaithfulness is a serious problem in
a man and a woman which is validly many families; it causes much suffering
contracted and through which children through poverty, diseases and family
are born. Hosea shows the ideal separation. With Prophet Hosea, married
marriage. He shows that marriage is couples are called upon to be faithful
something good and willed by God. to their marriage. If one is unfaithful,
God commanded him to take a wife of the only solution to the problem is
harlotry and have children of harlotry compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
(Hos. 1:1-4).
Chapter summary
Nowadays, this institution experiences
a lot of challenges due to a lack of In this chapter, we have addressed
compassion, mercy and forgiveness. the interrelated concepts of mercy,
Many families or married couples are forgiveness and compassion, as
broken, and others are divorced while described in the book of Hosea. Hosea’s
their children are left unattended. The interaction with his unfaithful wife
reason behind such situations in many teaches us about God’s mission to his
families is a lack of compassion, mercy people through unconditional love,
and forgiveness. Married people are forgiveness, and compassion.
supposed to show compassion to each
other, attending to the needs of each Forgiveness and compassion are virtues
other and their children. Doing so that have to do with the spiritual and
strengthens the bond of union among practical realms. However, as noted in
couples and leaves no one without care. the earlier chapter, these virtues have
much to do with each other. If these
In times of difficulty, such as sickness, virtues are practised holistically, they
family members are supposed to show will improve society. In other words,
compassion to each other. When a family these will minimise the suffering and
member strays, the other members must disputes observed at the family or
show mercy and forgiveness to him/her. societal level. Our families and societies
Another important message from will celebrate like the repentant prodigal
Prophet Hosea for family life is the call son, the forgiving Father and the servants
to faithfulness. Gomer was unfaithful (Lk. 15:24 – “And they began to make
to her husband; this troubled Hosea so merry.”).
much; nonetheless, because he was in

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