March 10, 2025 // Monday of the First Week of Lent

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18

Reflect on the Word // 

We were walking to the ballpark when my phone chimed. It was another hot desert day in July. My pregnant belly was starting to affect my stride, and I had traded my usual flip flops for tennis shoes. We stopped at the crosswalk and I looked at the message. It was our turn to cross. I tried to push through the unfortunate timing of the news, but the loud music and fan enthusiasm for the Savannah Bananas wasn’t enough to keep my head in the game. I even waddled over to take a picture with a banana cardboard cutout with the kids. The joy that radiated from kids of all ages was no match for the anger and betrayal that was muffling the excitement around me. Why couldn’t she have said this to me in person? We had been walking closely on our spiritual journey, and I felt betrayed by her actions.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him,

do not incur sin because of him” (Leviticus 19:17). Help me, Lord, to take this grievance and leave it at the altar. “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18). The Lord shows me that I may not have the power to restore this severed relationship; however, I can allow forgiveness to seal the cracks of my heart to love, and hope that when I have wronged someone they will do it for me too. That’s not to say that the hurt isn't there, but God knows my desire isn’t to grow hatred.  

This is the life of a Christian: to love and continue loving and learning to love our neighbor over and over again. Love is bigger than my human hurt and I know that because I see it when I look at Jesus crucified. He loves me and my neighbor, and He speaks this message of love to me straight to my heart and through the best kind of text message: Holy Scripture. 

Relate to the Lord // If the Lord were to send you a loving text from Scripture today, what would it say?