Thursday after Ash Wednesday
(Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25)
Above all the commandments that the Lord has given to the Israelites
looms what is known as the shema.
This is in essence the first commandment of the Decalogue. God’s people are to love Him with heart, soul
and might. It is not just that He is the
only God to love. He has also been so gracious in taking them from slavery in
Egypt to the land promised their ancestors.
But people are forgetful of the blessings that they have
received. Facing new crises, they lose
sight of how they have been helped in the past.
Instead of clinging to God all the more, they look to their devices for
salvation. A simple example is how many today depend upon technology to resolve
the global warming issue rather than seeking God’s help in living more
simply.
As with the Israelites preparing to conquer the peoples
living on their promised lands, the Lord is ready to help us meet today’s
challenges. We must turn to Him both with
our needs and our willingness to obey His commands. These are the cogent first principles of
Lent.
