Saturday of the 1st week of Lent
Deut. 26: 16-19 Mathew 5: 43-48
Theme: God’s love is awesome
The two readings we have today shows us that God loves us so much, and he is willing to do anything to give us life instead of death that our actions deserve. In the 1st reading of today, Moses guides the people to declare for God and he enters a covenant with the people of Israel. God is ever faithful to his covenant, and never disappoint his people. The real challenge is for you and I to keep our own side of the bargain. Just like the Israelites, in times of difficulties we are quick to make promises to God if he rescues us from the situation, we have found ourselves; while we find it difficult to fulfil our promises when he grants our desires. The season of Lent presents us the opportunity to strive to keep the promises we make to both God and our brothers and sisters. This is one of the attributes by which the children of God are known.
In love, Jesus invites you and I to embrace his kind of love that goes beyond boundaries, a love that goes beyond tribe, colour, religion, and class. It is an invitation that we must not take with a pinch of salt. This is because the world in which we live is in serious need of genuine and sincere love. A love that will keep us away from evil and the plan to hurt and destroy those we perceive as enemies. If all those who go by the name Christians make honest and sincere effort to practice this in our daily life, in no distant time there will be great positive impact in our life, family, community and in the country at large. The most important thing is our resolve to make it happen and we work for it, the grace of God will supply whatever is left for us to achieve our goal. Remember, when there is will there is always a way.
May God grant us the grace to be true Christians, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.