Psalm 41, 52
Deuteronomy 8: 11-18
Hebrews 2: 11-18
John 2: 1-12
Deut 8:17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
I remember Fr. Israel saying that churches were always full when people were in need or in trouble, people resetting their relationships with God. When we are not in need, do we forget that it is God who got us to that point? We should, as the verse says, remember that it is God who give us our gifts and thank Him.
And why don’t we? Do we have too much so that we don’t have time to list it all out for God? Do we think we will bother God with our constant thanks? Or do we truly believe that we created our own gifts and wealth?
Lent is a time to reset our relationship with God, to acknowledge and accept the gifts He has given us, to use those gifts to His purpose, and to thank Him at least as often as we request additional things from Him.
Mary DiFiore Crowe