Your piety is like a morning cloud

like the dew that early passes away.

In both of today’s readings we have demonstrations of piety that fall short in the eyes of God.

In the Gospel (Lk. 18:9-14), we have the Pharisee whose prayer of thanksgiving is really a litany of boasting.

In the first reading (Hosea 6:1-6), we have beautiful words of repentance:

"Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth."

Beautiful words of repentance... followed immediately by the Lord’s scornful dismissal:

What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth...

Their penitence is perfunctory at best, like the Pharisee’s thanksgiving, not at all like the Publican’s humble, heartfelt cry for mercy.

Their repentance does not come from the heart nor does it affect their actions. It is just a show – as if they could fool God!

We need to repent... for real!