Luke 11: 1-4
At the time I lived honour, men’s honour, was important. No matter if it wasn’t the woman’s fault. A woman like me, whose reputation was tarnished would harm a man’s honour would not be good marriage material.
So I married the prophet Hosea. We were quite an odd couple. People wondered what he saw in me. They also might wonder what I saw in him, a religious guy who says he is a prophet didn’t look much like my type either. Did he just marry me as a metaphor? People always say that our marriage, and our children’s names are symbolic of God’s love of an unfaithful people. But to us it was so much more than that. In life sometimes you have to give someone another chance. In human relationships there is something more important than honour and reputation. People can change. Did people consider that maybe we actually liked each other!
Our marriage wasn’t always easy. People would point fingers and mutter behind our backs. But Hosea said to take no notice. He said that they had been unfaithful to what God wants in so many ways. He said that how we cared for each other and our children, despite the difficult start to our marriage, would show them how God cared for people, and teach them something about God’s mercy.“
I wonder what Gomer and Hosea’s story says to our world today. There has been a rise in racist attacks. The recent referendum has revealed that we are a very divided society. Much of the campaign exploited racial and national differences. Many people are now feeling fearful and uncertain. Now, whatever happens politically, our society is in need of healing.
The point of the story is twofold
One: Avoiding prejudice and looking at the human story.
Two: Mercy, healing and forgiveness are difficult but possible.
First, Gomer suffered from prejudice because of her reputation. Prejudice can take many forms. In the book and film “Goodbye Mr. Chips” a list of names of former members of the school who have list their lives in the war is read out. As the name of Max Staefel, a German, is read out there is a murmur of discontent. At this, Mr. Chips stands up and reminds them, “Individuals are not Nations.” At the moment, migrants and foreign nationals living in Britain are living in fear and encountering hostility. Some people have decided to wear a safety pin as a sign that they are against prejudice, and they want to be a safe person for someone who feels fearful to talk to or sit with.
Secondly, that mercy, healing and forgiveness are difficult but possible. The story of Hosea and Gomer, uses an intimate human relationship to signify God’s mercy and love. In Luke’s Lord’s Prayer that we heard in our New Testament reading, God is addressed as “Father.” It then goes on to ask that our sins are forgiven, “as we forgive those who sin against us”. This suggests to me that for that early Jewish community that followed Jesus, an atmosphere of mercy and forgiveness were considered the norm. When there are difficulties in human relationships,, as partners, parents or children, people have to work through their difficulties, talk about their hurt and anger and hopefully work things out in an an atmosphere of love. This is often very difficult. This is equally the case in society. Like any relationship this is difficult, and something you have to work at. Forgiveness and mercy are not about avoiding the wrongs and hurts that have been done. After apartheid in South Africa the Reconciliation and Truth Commission was established to face up to the things that had happened and help people move forward. At the heart of our faith is the belief that human beings are good, and that they can change.
So remember Gomer and Hosea, an odd couple who worked things our.. The two things that they can teach us are to avoid prejudice, and that, whilst often difficult, forgiveness and mercy are possible. People can change.
