PRAYER

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Your light springs up for the righteous and all the peoples have seen your glory.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and forever. Amen.

READING

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 11-18 (NLT)

The Lord also said to Moses, ² “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

¹¹ “Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

¹² “Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

¹³ “Do not defraud or rob your neighbour.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

¹⁴ “Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

¹⁵ “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favouring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

¹⁶ “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbour’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

¹⁷ “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives.Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

¹⁸ “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.

REFLECTION

When driving down the road, how do you know if you're speeding? Speed limits are often posted on signs so you know what the law is regarding how fast you can go. You'll know you are speeding if the speed posted is lower than the speed you are going. The law points out what is expected and brings attention to whether or not we have met that expectation.

God's law is also used in this way. God's rules teach us how to live Holy lives. God's rules teach us how to be safe and how to avoid hurting ourselves and others. The only person who has ever fully obeyed each of God's law is Jesus because He is perfectly Holy. Our goal as Christians is to become Holy and this happens when we obey God's laws and ask for forgiveness when we break them. This is why we confess our sins each week at church and quietly in our own hearts throughout the week. Becoming Holy is about action and obedience. We may not feel like doing the right thing but as long as we try our best to follow and obey God, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will grow in holiness and in the process our hearts will change for the better.

LENT CHECK IN

Try to be mindful of your words. Recognize when you speak truths or untruths. Consider asking God to help you speak truth.

Try cleaning a space in your home that is dirty/messy (under your bed, under the fridge, behind the couch). In this act, be mindful of areas in your life that might also need "cleaning".