It is Monday and a very acceptable time to reflect, think and pray. The readings today help to narrow my thought process and provide many lenses to help my focus during Lent 2022. My reflection builds on the blog from two years ago with the same readings (not intentional).

The Leviticus reading goes farther than the Ten Commandments. The verses are especially poignant to me right now. Each phrase, each sentence declares:

“You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.

You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God.

I am the LORD.

You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.
You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.

You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,

but you shall fear your God.

I am the LORD.

You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.

Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,

but judge your fellow men justly.

You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;

nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake.

I am the LORD.

You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.

Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him.

Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the LORD.” LV 19:11-18

I have to be on guard to make sure that when I read and pray with the above words, I direct them to me and me alone. I have to set aside the immediate images or situations that pop into my head which focus on others’ actions.

Now is a very acceptable time to order my thoughts and actions according to the Word of my Master, my Lord, my Savior, my God.

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