WATCHWORD:
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40
Meditation:
Collect for Purity
Good morning. Let’s start with the Collect for Purity from the Anglican Liturgy:
Almighty God, to You all hearts are open, all desires known, and from You no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You,
and worthily magnify Your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
I think that is beautiful and poetic, reminiscent of scripture passages, such as Psalm 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Or perhaps, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.
In the Collect we see all three persons of the Trinity: The Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son. In our belief and in our prayer life with God we approach the Holy throne of grace and our heart is open, and fully known by our Abba, Father. We sometimes forget or we choose to forget that all of our inner-most thoughts, motives and secret actions are known by God. Nothing is hid. And yet, He cleanses our hearts and renews the right spirit within us. Not only that, but we shall see God! It an amazing exchange.
For the Anglican church, and for us, the Collect for Purity is especially meaningful at the beginning of communion service. In communion we see Christ through eyes of faith. That first reference to the heart comes just before we received the Body and the Blood, the bread and the wine that is Christ and we are instructed to eat, to feed on him, with hearts of thankfulness.
Remember how Jesus responded to the question from the teacher of the law about what is the greatest commandment: You shall love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. Deuteronomy 6:4. Do you see that in the last few words of the Collect?
Here’s my conclusion to this little Collect meditation: If we truly follow, love God fully, completely, at all times, then the second commandment, loving others, follows naturally, and becomes simply our way of life under the power of the Holy Spirit.When e love others, we are loving God. May it be so with you. Amen.
Thoughtful Words:
Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary. — St. Francis of Assisi
If accepting Christ makes no difference in the way we live our lives, then it is nothing! — Allen Jackson
“I Love It!”
That was the summary comment following the editing and reviewing of The Inn On Jericho Road by Caryn Rivadeneira, professional editor and published author. Her edits were quite complete and detailed, but it was her final statement that had me smiling. I think you will love it, too. Release date coming soon. Stan Escott
Praying the Collect:
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name as we follow your will in our lives, moment by moment, through each day. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
