28 February, Saturday — Let us follow His ways to love as He loves

Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent

Deu 26:16-19
Mt 5:43-48

…you will be a people consecrated to the Lord…

We are in the early days of the Lenten season, in preparation for the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Today’s readings have much to offer our prayer, fasting and almsgiving practices.

When read together, the two readings sum up so simply and beautifully the essence of discipleship — of following Jesus. In the first reading, Moses tells the Israelites three simple truths: that they have declared that the Lord is God; that this declaration must come with action; the people must follow the ways of the Lord they serve — the Lord they declare as theirs. The last and most beautiful truth is this: when they follow His ways, they will become a special people, set apart, consecrated, and purified by Him and for Him.

In the time of Moses, there were many laws and prescriptions to follow, traditions and observances to undertake. But in the New Testament, in Matthew’s reading, it is made clear to His disciples that the way of Jesus is that we need only love — unconditionally; love those you can’t; love those who don’t deserve it.

To “follow His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and listen to His voice” (Deu 26:17) is to love your neighbours and enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Mt 5:43–48).

So simple, yet impossible for us humans — but not for God. Brothers and sisters in Christ, none of us can be perfect as our God is perfect, but we can pray for the grace each and every day to try. We start each day acting in love, and we may fail, but being a follower of Jesus Christ means we are given the grace to try, to try again. That is all God needs from us: the desire each morning to try to love. He will shower us with the grace to accomplish it, slowly but surely.

Likewise, during this period of Lent, in the midst of fasting and penitence, we may also have tried and failed in years past, to abstain from coffee, alcohol, or Netflix. I know I have rued my lack of willpower and discipline whilst wondering why others can do it. It becomes a cycle of disappointment and anger.

Here’s the radical idea of Lent — it is not about my willpower, but the power of our Lord’s will.

One of the graces of fasting is learning to rely entirely on God. It means giving up some of the earthly comforts we rely on to keep us going each day — coffee to stimulate us, alcohol to soothe us, shopping to distract us. Each day, we turn to Jesus and say, “I desire to rely solely on You, not on earthly comforts to get me through the day.”

Some days, if and when we do fail, Ephesians 4:32 exhorts us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other — then also forgive yourself and love yourself. It does no one any good to fear and dread Lent. I intend to follow my own advice this year and “clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col 3:12).

I don’t think God expects any one of us to attain perfection here on earth, but He does expect us to follow His ways and examples and to live in the hope and faith that He is with us. And perhaps when we reach heaven, we can receive the praise and reward of being the children of our Father in heaven.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Julia Lim)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I find it difficult to depend entirely on You and You alone. Some days, I am not even sure I want to. So Lord, I pray for that grace today.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for giving me such a clear way to live my life. Thank you for the chance to see you in heaven through the death and resurrection of your son Jesus Christ.