If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
Lent is a season of promises and threats; they are carefully spelled out in today's first reading from Deuteronomy. With 25 words the Lord offers the choice: life or death, blessing or curse. Two paragraphs (125 words) describe the promises and blessings; one smaller paragraph (50 words) warns of doom. As we aspire to the good stuff we should remember the bad.
During Lent Christian churches withdraw somewhat from the world around us to contemplate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. What does it mean for me? For us? For the world? Because we consider it a historical event we know its meaning goes far beyond our limited horizons.
Astrophysicists ponder celestial events and "light cones." They consider a nova, for instance, and the time it takes the "news" to reach the rest of the universe. They consider not only the first three dimensions of height, width and depth, but also the fourth dimension of time. No matter how spectacular the event, it can make no difference beyond the shock wave that is travelling at the speed of light. If we happen to see the event, we see it as it's happening, although it might have happened a billion years ago.
Jesus' death is like that. Until we have heard -- deeply heard -- the Announcement of his victory the Gospel means nothing to us. The light must penetrate the dark spaces within our hearts and minds. But because we are made in God's image those spaces have infinite dimensions. There is no end to the revelation; it must continue into eternity.
Nor is there an end to the promises and threats. If we obey the commandments daily we are blessed daily; if we turn away to pursue lesser ends, the warnings turn to grief.
"Freedom is not free!" our Veterans like to say. Its demands are relentless. "Freedom is a jealous god!" I reply. We are not permitted to indulge in toxic habits; neither of substance abuse, nor abusive actions, words, attitudes and thoughts. The last two of the Ten Commandments, you will recall, do not permit secret desires for the spouses or properties of others. Your mind is also surveilled by God.
Lent recalls us to the practice of constant prayer, as we surrender our hearts and minds, our hopes and desires to our Good God.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.