March 8, 2021

Exodus 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

This is the introductory statement to the Ten Commandments. We are so focused on individuality and self-determination in our culture that commandments seem like unjust impositions to most people. “I’ll do what I want” is the rallying cry today. But these commandments were given by the God who had just set the people free. As Kris Kristofferson wrote and Janis Joplin sang, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” We want to believe we are a solid and will keep our shape no matter what. The truth is, we are a liquid and without a container, something setting our limits and conditions, we will flow, shapeless and undefined. The commandments are given to us to show us who we can become and how we can get there. They are more of a gift than a responsibility. May you use them as such this Lent.