Friday of the Third Week of Lent
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
These days our hearts hurt, our souls sometimes feel crushed, minds racing, and our strength is waning. Our hearts hurt for people who are suffering, both before and during this pandemic; for people who are scared, including us; and for people who are putting their life on the line to help. Our souls feel the weight of the world and delight in the glimpses of goodness we see through our virtual connections. Our minds are trying to process way more information than they can take, always asking whether the information is accurate and trustworthy. Knowing that we have to trust the experts, reconcile competing viewpoints, and still maintain our sanity. Our strength puts on a happy face for our young kids who don’t understand what is happening but are thrilled to have quality family time.
Today’s Gospel reading is a much-needed reminder that all of these pieces of our being can be turned over to God. The best way, really the only way, to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength is to give all of this to Him. Place all of our fear, our worry, our uncertainty, and our weakness in His lap and then focus on the second commandment. Focus on what we can control. Here. Now. Today. Pandemic and all, focus on loving our neighbor, from a distance, of course.
We also believe that our God is a God of hope. Hope in a new day; renewal of heart, soul, and mind; renewal of health and sanity; reinvigorated strength.
“I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress, you called, and I rescued you.” (Psalm 81:7)
How is your heart, soul, mind, and strength today? Does your love for God compel you to share all of this with Him?
“The good God can give more than our idea can ever conceive. The whole thing is to have great confidence in the good God.” - St. Julie Billiart
May we all ‘have courage, great courage’ through the grace of our good God to face the impossibilities, challenges, fears, and unknowns in our lives this day. Lord, grants us courageous strength in heart, soul, and mind!
Abundant Blessings,
Brandon & LeeAnn Meyer