Wednesday 23 March 2022
Today is Wednesday the 23rd of March, in the third week of Lent.
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. What are your eyes fixed on today? As you begin to pray with this music by Margaret Rizza, begin to turn your eyes towards the Lord.
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum (My eyes are on the Lord God) (repeat 3x's)
Like the deer that yearns for running streams
So my soul is yearning for my God
My tears have become my bread day and night
As I hear it said: 'Where is your God?'
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum (repeat)
By day the Lord will send His loving Spirit
By night I will sing praises to the God of my life
Send out Your light and Your truth as my guide
To lead me to Your holy ground
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum (repeat)
Then shall I go to the God of my joy
Singing praise, praise on the lyre and the harp
Why so downcast my soul?
Put your hope and trust in my Saviour, my God
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum (repeat)
Today's reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. See, just as the LORD my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!' For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children--
In this excerpt from the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are poised to cross the Jordan and enter the promised land. Here they are being told how they are to live once they are there. Notice the verbs that are used: Give heed… observe… obey statutes and ordinances… watch yourselves closely… do not forget… make them known to your children and your children's children. What are we being encouraged to do here, do you think?
"This great nation is a wise and discerning people", says Moses. Why are they seen to be wise? Would Moses say the same of the people or country where you are listening to this prayer right now?
"Do not forget the things that your eyes have seen". What might God be telling you not to forget during this Lenten season?
Now listen as the passage is read again; What is it telling you today?
Finally, spend a moment reflecting on the emotions that are with you during this time of prayer. Can you put them into words and turn them into a prayer to God?
You have given all to me. To you Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace…
That is enough for me.