Reflections on readings for March 26

Blessed by the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
(Psalm 68:19)

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
What they have heard before, they need to hear again. Moses recites for them the ten commandments and reminds them that the Lord also had given other statutes and ordinances. He then cautions them: These are intended to benefit you. Remember them and teach them to your children.

Luke 6:11-35
Allen & Williamson in Preaching the Gospels list many scriptures that underlie the Jewish tradition of providing for widows and others on the margins of life: Leviticus 22:13; Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 24:17-22; 25:5-10; 26:12; 27:19; Psalm 68:5; 94:1-7; 146;7; Isaiah 1:16-17, 21025; 10:2; Jeremiah 49:1.

They also remind us that Elijah in 1 Kings 17:8-24 and Elisha in 2 Kings 4:18-32 compassionately restore life to the sons of widows.

Read some of the passages that A & W have suggested. For example, "You shall love the aliens and provide food and clothing for them."  And, "Set aside some of your earnings to feed aliens, orphans, and widows." Over and over, we are told what to do, and over and over, we often act as if what we have worked for is ours to keep solely for ourselves.

Through the church, God can continue to look favorably on the people. Through the church, those who need sustenance and support can receive it.

Jesus continues this tradition of caring for the powerless. He restores a widow's son. The onlookers  have seen a miracle. A man's life has been restored. A woman's security has been restored.

The first reaction of the witnesses is fear.

But, it is not their only reaction. We are told that they glorified God.They spoke immediately, and they continued to speak. They spoke to each other and the word they spoke spread widely.

Take-away: pay attention, acknowledge, share.

Psalm 68:19-35

Proverbs 11:29-31

Prayer for Today: O Lord, our God, the one Lord alone, engender within us the love for you with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might. Remind us of what you have commanded us to do, how we are to live. Open us to the needs of others. Amen.