One of the things I find striking in the Bible is how passionately God feels about things–not a dispassionate stoic up in the heavens, but a God who feels strongly about us and wants what’s best for us.
The prophet Malachi asks a stark question of us: “Why do we break faith with one another?” His complaint was against the religious leaders of the day, specifically the priests, who were not faithful to their duties and caused harm among the people.
This complaint has found an echo in modern times in those of our own religious leadership who have not been faithful. But the people in Malachi’s time and in our own time have also turned away and broken the covenant with God and with each other.
Jesus addresses this theme in his own teachings. Don’t follow the example of religious leaders who preach but don’t practice, and avoid titles of honor. On a deeper level Jesus is saying that we follow the one Father in heaven, and our Father in heaven will take care of our needs. This is a recurring theme of Jesus: in the Lord’s Prayer, in the instructions not to worry about things, and elsewhere. The message is that God cares for us and provides for us. Letting that message sink in will bring us a greater sense of peace and joy.
“Have we not all the one Father? Has not the one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10)
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Not coincidentally, I suppose, just hours before your beautiful spiritual photo and reflection arrived in my inbox, I read from the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, verse 4, one of my favorite biblical moments of all time, when Moses reminds his people: “The Lord our God is One.“
Like you, I found myself reflecting on how, in that same chapter, Moses continues teaching his people that “the greatest of all Commandments is this; love God, with all your heart all your soul, and all your mind.”
Many years later, when Jesus was asked by the rabbis, high priests and Pharisees to recite the greatest commandment as a means of entrapment, Jesus replied to all present quoting Moses from above, namely, “to love God, with all your heart, mind and soul.” Who could argue?
Then, later in Jesus’ ministry, at his presentation, or what is called bar mitzvah in modern times, Jesus continued, adding; “today, in your hearing, prophecy is fulfilled,” which the high priests considered blasphemy!
Lastly, included in that prophecy is what Jesus often said to us/his disciples before his untimely death: “and remember, I am in you, you are in me, and I am in the father/God. So fear not, I will be with you always, even until the end of time.“
What a hopeful way to enter Lent, first, knowing that God is One, and that Oneness includes you and me! 😃. Thanks Fr. Ron
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Yes. The spirit of Lent and, really, of our faith is to return to our original unity with God, to let go of whatever is in the way, and to bring others along on the journey.
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Great thoughts!
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