Daily Lenten Devotionals 2010

February 22‐Monday in the First Week of Lent

Collect of the Day Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 19:7‐14 Lessons Leviticus 19:1‐2,11‐18 Matthew 25:31‐46

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:…You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour. You shall not go around as a slanderer* among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood* of your neighbour: I am the Lord. You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviti‐ cus 19:1‐2,11‐18:

Initially this passage may appear to simply outline the Ten Commandments for Moses, but through the repetition of “I am the Lord” I found that this had a much more mean‐ ingful message for me. The Lord is not only declaring that the word is true and there‐ fore just law because He is the Lord, but He is also showing a steadfast commitment to us. In speaking to Moses, God is giving us a glimpse into His holiness and then is giv‐ ing us ways to become closer to Him rather than just limiting our actions. It is said that people tend to wear their religion like a headache. They are not willing to cut off their head to alleviate the annoyance and therefore must live with the pain in the form of limitation on their actions. The religion described in Leviticus 19 is not a monotonous, routine‐filled religion. It is a lifestyle focused around the idea of love.

This scripture allows man to attempt to overcome the disease that is sin to become holy. The Lord wanted His message spread, so He outlined this list of actions that fol‐ low moral inclinations ending with the most crucial idea. I used to find the idea of lov‐ ing everyone to be completely unattainable and a little silly. What about the murderers and rapists? How could I love them? By loving them am I approving of their actions?

Over the past few years through the outpouring of love present in my Christian com‐