Thursday 23 February 2023

Today is Thursday the 23rd of February, in the season of Lent.



Paul Zach sings, ‘Create In Me’. Can you make these words your own today?


Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
Against you only I have sinned
Done evil in your sight
But you have shown me what I've done
With mercy in your eyes
Then washed my shame and guilt away
My weary soul renewed
From all my sinning turn your face
Let me return to you
Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
So I will give you what you ask
A humbled broken heart
A spirit burning down to ash
Within your flame, o God
And this will be your mercy lord
Transforming all of me
Til every act and every word
Your love and glory speaks
Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
Create in me a clean heart, o Lord
Have mercy on me according to your endless love
Have mercy on me according to your endless love
Have mercy on me according to your endless love
Have mercy on me according to your endless love
According to your endless love

Today’s reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy.


Deut 30:15-20

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

We are now stepping onto our long Lenten journey path, and the Church offers us this reading, from the time when Israel was camped on the east side of the River Jordan, in their own journey, preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses is addressing them about how they are to behave when they get there.


Moses says, “I have set before you life and death”. What will you choose today? How will you go about making your choice?

“If your heart turns away and you do not hear”. Have you ever felt tempted to this sort of deafness? How do you cope with it?

Now listen as the passage is read to you once more, and see what strikes you most.


Finally, bring together all the thoughts that have come to you during this time of prayer, and see if you can 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.
Amen.