saturday of the first week in lent

Date: Saturday, February 24
Contributor: Becky Lucas
Lectionary Link https://www.lectionarypage.net/WeekdaysOfLent/SatFirstWeek.html
 
DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19
O God, by your Word you marvelously carry out the work of reconciliation: Grant that in our Lenten fast we may be devoted to you with all our hearts, and united with one another in prayer and holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
MATTHEW 5:43-44
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
So, it is no small task of loving the world that our God calls us to do. Sometimes I find it hard to love those who I know truly love me, to say nothing of loving my enemies. In this time of such polarized thought and obvious division in our country and around the world, this task of loving all seems even more daunting. Our neighbor is that person who has a different political persuasion, different nationality, different cultural roots or sexual persuasion, different financial base and different lived experience. Please Lord this Lent help us to keep on with the glorious task you have given us to love our enemies. Teach us daily just what that means and how we can go about accomplishing this task of love. Keep our thoughts and hearts open to all our neighbors so that we are engaged in the work of love and reconciliation in your name. ​