Commandment Sunday 馃摃馃搩馃摉馃搫
Third Sunday of lent.
In the first reading taken from the book of Exodus 20:1-17, we notice the concious effort made by God to put the house of Israel in order. He reasoned that there was a dire need to unite the house with some guided principles. It is worthy of note that the FIRST LAWNAKER is God and all other constitution bear their root from the ten commandments.A detailed look at the 1999 constitution (as ammended) can be traced to the hallowed ten commandments.
The second reading initiates a further move by God to unite the people with himself by giving them a new mandate; having his commandments written not on a scroll but in the hearts of men embedded in love. God desires us to know Him by heart, not by mere lip service or memorizing his word ( cramming a good number of scriptures). Joel2:13, "Rend your HEART and NOT YOUR GARMENTS. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity"
1 corinthians 1:22-25 talks about the different notions people feel thy know Christ and can convince others of that knowledge. Verse 22 states, "Brethren: Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ CRUCIFIED, a STUMBLING BLOCK to Jews and FOLLY to Gentiles....."
What then is "Christ crucified?" What was God trying to achieve? Why was there a paradoxical distinction between God (divine) and human wisdom? Making us understand the concept of unconditional love, love uncensored, love divine, love so pure, love unfettered! The disciples having experienced this kind of love needed not signs nor human wisdom to find God. Total and strict reliance in God's word and His divne wisdom was instructive and more than enough ( verse 25, For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men).
The gospel still treading on same path, John 2:13-25 gave a vivid picture of what God expects of us. He needed that we internalise these commandments and make it a part of us, therefrom we can act on them without going through the scroll or mental picture of the laws in your head. Your heart in union with Christ is what God demands of us.
Scarcely had he sighted the people profaning the temple, in holy anger, he immediately upturned their tables and ordered them out of his father's house.
There already existed between him and his father an unbreakable chain of unsurpassed love. This show of love, this chemistry is what God wants to replicate in us as well. So many times we have turned down his offer.
In today's homily, graciously delivered by Father Tee, he drew our attention to the familiar drawings which encapsulates the popular Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me".
Did you ever notice that in the drawing, there is no handle or knob on the outside but can only br opened from the inside? This transcends to the fact that Christ can only but knock ,he cannot force himself on you. The choice to open up and let him in is solely yours to make .
Advice: Go back to God, accept his laws and say to him emphatically, according to today's response tsken from Psalm 19; " Lord, you have the words of eternal life". Let these words lead you truly to a life that lasts forever - in union with Christ.
#lentcontinues
#returntoGod
#commandmentoflove
#aheartlikechrist
#openforChrist
#zealofmyfathershouse
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