"You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain..."
Exodus 20:7
Today's first reading is a list of the commandments and it could be worthwhile to read the whole thing (Exodus 20:-17) and ponder which ones we struggle with the most. The reflection in "Give Us This Day" really made me think this morning and I am so grateful for the gift. I tend to think of taking God's name in vain literally; peppering my speech with "God this" or "Good God that." Farmer and author Clarence Jordan writes in his reflection that taking God's name in vain is actually being "unchanged by the grace of God." Those church people who play by the rules but have no love for others behind their playing the church game. Like the Pharisees in Jesus' time, they may be doing it all correctly, but are they just fulfilling their Sunday obligation or paying their "fire insurance," as Richard Rohr puts it? Are they putting God's name out there with love and compassion? Or are they just looking out for themselves? We are misusing God's name if we are just sitting in church for our own gain. If our lives are truly changed by the grace of God we recognize the mission to love others and share God's grace with everyone. This commandment much less about our speech and much more about how we live our lives. Powerful food for thought, Friends! Love, heidi
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