Hosea 6:1-6

Today's reading for the Catholic mass is Hosea 6:1-6.  As I skimmed it this morning the last verse caught my attention most clearly, 

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings

Following God is not about outward signs and all the "actions" and following rules in a church setting.  Following God is above love, knowledge of what he asks us to do, and acting on it.  An even more interesting tidbit it that the reading on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' website for today says "love" as listed above.  Whereas, the Bible verse on a separate web page also sponsored by USCCB actually says "loyalty".  I think that loyalty may capture better what I think is being asked for.  Not that love is unimportant--recently I wrote about loving God above all things.  But loyalty is something else and something that is clearly important and suggests not turning away from what is known.