Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Reflection for the 1st Week of Lent, Part 2

Thursday – Do to Others

Jesus' summary of the Law and the prophets is simple but not easy: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”

We all know how we want to be treated. We long for love, for understanding, for respect, for dignity, for justice, for comfort, for support. We desire to be valued as unique individuals with our own talents, abilities, goals, fears, and needs.

But how willing are we to treat others as we want to be treated? Do we recognize in others what we wish them to recognize in us? Are we prepared to give them what we so crave? How well do we obey Jesus' command?

Friday – Who Can Stand?

“If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?”

Who, indeed, can stand if God holds our sins against us? Who can appear before Him guiltless? Who is worthy to see Him face to face? Who is deserving of His grace?

No one.

But God doesn't hold our sins against us. When we repent and confess, He forgives us. He welcomes us into His presence. He pours out His grace upon us.

Why?

Because God loves us. Because He wants to save us. Because He is Mercy in person. Because we belong to Him and He longs to gather us to Himself forever.

Saturday – Peculiarly God's Own


In today's first reading, Moses tells the Israelites that they are to be a people peculiarly God's own.

The translation of “peculiarly” here doesn't quite capture the depth of the Hebrew word segullah. This word literally means property or possession with overtones of some special jewel or treasure that is greatly valued and carefully kept.

The Israelites, then, are to be God's treasure. So are we. God values His people as His own special jewel, and He guards and protects us. We belong to Him alone, and He cares for us. We are peculiarly God's own, and isn't that wonderful? 

(Information about Hebrew vocabulary comes from http://www.biblehub.com/.)

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