Thursday, March 1, 2018
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Reading: Exodus 20:1-17
"You shall have no other
gods before me." Exodus 20:3
The narrative of
the exodus of the people of Israel here completes a circle, from Sinai where
Moses first saw the burning bush and received God's command to free the
Israelites, to the foot of Sinai again, now with all the throng who left the
oppression of Egypt. For eleven months the people camp at the foot of the
mountain. For forty days Moses converses with God on the mountain. And yet
there is no eventual worship of Mount Sinai, for God is a God who travels with
the people, not confined to one mountain, one tree, one building, one statue.
And God gives them a sign of the circular nature of covenant, directed to a
second person singular - you: ten "words", ten ways to show that
their hearts and lives belong to God, not to any other loyalty or lure.
God of covenant, open our
hearts, so that we may always be aware of your presence. Amen
·
Eat only bread or cooked rice for one meal; set aside
the money saved for an act of love.