Theme: The marriage covenant in both the First Lesson and the Gospel provides an image of the kind of intimacy which God seeks with his people. For Hosea this means going back to the honeymoon period (the Exodus). In the Gospel Jesus suggests that he is the bridegroom and his disciples are the bride. It was a fitting time to celebrate the marriage.

COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Hosea 2:14-23
The prophet Hosea speaks the word of God to the eighth century people of Israel (the northern kingdom). It was an age of great apostasy. The people had largely forsaken their God and taken part in sensuous fertility rites in worship of Baal. In the verses just prior to this text, Hosea declares God's anger and punishment. In verses 14 and following the prophet holds up a great hope that the Lord would …