It's Not Unusual

The Marian Fathers present this Lenten devotional series to help you prepare to receive graces on Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday.

Readings: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48
Diary: 377, 457, 666

Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. - Ps 119:2

There's a funny scene in the movie "Death Becomes Her." Meryl Streep's character, who seeks eternal beauty and youth, drinks a magical elixir. The provider says, "And now a warning." Meryl screeches back, "Now a warning!"

When Moses gives the Chosen People God's statutes and decrees, he includes a warning:

Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you are making this agreement with the LORD: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to his voice.

Unlike the movie's surprise, God's message through Moses gives a plain and repeated caution. In the Book of Deuteronomy, we see variants of be careful, take heed, be diligent, keep, beware, and watch a total of 74 times!

Even before all the laws are explained, God's people have been told that it won't be enough to just follow the laws. The agreement is with God Himself. The laws must be observed with "all your heart" and "all your soul."

Today's other readings echo this point. Jesus asks, "If you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?"

Prayer: Lord, help me to strive with all my heart to follow Your commands.

Missed a day? See previous "From Ashes to Mercy" daily meditations.