October 7, 2020

Daily Lectionary Reading for Year A

Deuteronomy 6:10-25

The lectionary continues following the story of the law handed from God through Moses to the people.  Do not forget.  Do not get too comfortable.  Do not get complacent.  Do not be foolish and begin to believe it is you, and not God, who brings blessings.  Do not live as though the law does not apply to you.  Do not, I repeat, do not follow other gods, for our God is a jealous God.  Do not put God to the test.  Do not question whether God will provide; God has shown constant, steadfast love.  Do not fail to tell your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren what God has done.  Do not stop worshiping.  Do not let anything keep you from loving God and loving neighbor.  If you want peace, do not disobey the commandments of God.

What happens when you have placed yourself ahead of God?  When have individuals, communities, governments, etc. disobeyed God's commandments?  What are the other gods we are warned against worshiping, and what does it mean that God is jealous?  Who has told you the story of God's love to remind you that God is faithful and that you are precious?

Read this poem:
I am what others think about me
and I know that it's not true that
I am worthy of love
for I am sure
I'll never ever be enough
don't try to tell me how
I deserve to feel good in my own skin
every single day I choose to believe that
my worth and value depend on them
I don't want to live a lie by thinking
that I don't need to earn the love of others
I know deep down in my heart
my mistakes and failures define me 
don't you try to tell me
I am unique and beautiful just the way I am
what others say about me
makes it impossible to believe in
all that I am

(Now read it backwards.)

Peace,
Dean