Breaking the Word

3^rd week in Lent, Wednesday – 15^th March 2023 – Deut 4,1.5-9; Mt 5,17-19

Laws of Intimacy

Moses reminds the Israelites of the great treasure they have in their laws and customs, a treasure full of “wisdom and understanding.” The first reading calls attention to the loving intimacy between God and the people among whom he lives: “Indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us? What great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole law?” The precepts of the Lord are not meant to restrict us and our freedom, but to draw us closer to God. They are meant to be yet another sign of God’s love for the people whom God has chosen. In other words, the laws are life-giving and a reminder by God to establish relationships with the chosen people. The greatness of any society can be measured, first, in the quality of its legal system, and second, in how its laws are administered and observed. This involves mutual cooperation between law-makers, enforces of the law, interpreters of the law and observers of the law. It is in the law that God is with his people. Through its observance, the people express their closeness to him.

3^rd week in Lent, Tuesday – 14^th March 2023 – Daniel 3,25.34-43; Mt 18,21-35

Prayer of Winning God’s Favour

The first reading from the Book of Daniel presents the prayer of Azariah, one among the three Jewish men thrown into the fiery furnace for following the teachings of his own beliefs rather than the command to worship the golden statue set up in Babylon by the King Nebuchadnezzar. This is one of the most beautiful and sincere prayers in the Bible, expressing the contrite heart and humble spirit of the people accepted by God. It is Azariah’s prayer of seeking God’s forgiveness and gentleness. In this prayer, Azariah realizes that the Jewish people are in exile and are suffering because of their past unfaithfulness to God. Due to which, they are experiencing the loss of the temple, their inability to practice their regular religious activities, even the loss of their religious leadership: “No leader, no prophet, no prince, no holocaust, no sacrifice, no incense, no place where we can offer you the first-fruits and win you favour.” Azariah offers this prayer with a contrite heart and a humble spirit. He pleads with God to remember the promises made to the descendants of Abraham and not to deal with the people as their sins deserve. The three young men hoped that a truly repentant heart would win God’s forgiveness. They put themselves totally at the feet of God’s mercy and compassion.