Soon after I was ordained the bishop came to our church to run a pre-confirmation day for the deanery and at one point he was asking teenagers in a group I was with about the 10 Commandments. I remember sitting on the carpet dreading him turning to me to list them, as I would have failed! I have never been very good at recalling things in this way (and I’m hopeless in a quiz!). Happily he never did ask me, but what I took away from that day was the importance of understanding over reciting. I know where to find them and I have some understanding of them even if I find it difficult to recite them. Happily, Jesus summed up the Law in a much more straightforward way “Love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.”

This, I suspect, is what lies behind Jesus’ anger at the money-changers in the Temple courtyards. Worshippers were required to have the correct animal for a sacrifice, and only ‘temple money’ could be used within the Temple and the exchange rate and the cost of animals was extortionate. Ordinary faithful people were being abused and exploited, bringing dishonour to God.

One of our modern difficulties with the Commandments is their negative opening “Thou shalt not…”. We object to being told what we can and can’t do, so we have to try to look beyond the opening and work at the true meaning of the words. Some years ago at a diocesan synod, when everything seemed so difficult, a colleague stood up to remind us that we are ‘Anglicans’ not angli-can’ts, a bit like the difference between being half full and half empty.

In his letter to the Corinthians, St Paul wrote “The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God… for God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” We fool ourselves into thinking we are wise and clever (and society increasingly does not see the need for God) when even the wisest and boldest of us actually knows little.

As we move away from a negative self-centredness in our Lenten journey we can begin to rely more on God who fills us with his love and who wants us to be people who are positive, willing to say ‘yes’ and to live life to the full.

Daily Bible readings

One way of approaching a bible reading is to read the passage slowly (deliberately) then consider one thing the words say to you, perhaps there is a word or phrase which stands out, then read it again. Now prayerfully consider how the text might impact on your life; how does it shed light on God’s love? Is there something I should do differently? Then say a simple prayer of thanks to God for his Word and pray the Collect.

Lord God, by your Word fill me with a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving

Monday (8^th)   2 Corinthians 9.1-15 God loves a cheerful giver

Tuesday           Ephesians 5.6-20 Live as children of light

Wednesday     Philippians 4.1-9 Rejoice in the Lord!

Thursday         Colossians 3.1-17 clothe yourselves with love

Friday              1 Chronicles 16.23-36 give thanks to the Lord

Saturday          Psalm 103 Bless the Lord

Collect

Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.