The homily offered at our Closing Eucharist, referred to the Ten Commandments as a covenant between God and the people whom God had chosen. Rather than seeing these as restrictions, such a view encourages us to understand them as signs of the relationship. The former Egyptian slaves were willing and eager to be united under the care and watchful eye of the God of Abraham. An old rabbinical story says they were not content with one law (“I will be your God and you will be my people”,) but asked for nine more.
When Moses goes up on the mountain, and the Ten Commandments are given him, he comes down the mountain to discover the whole molten calf thing and in his anger he smashes the stone tablets on which the commandments were written.
Later in the story, in Exodus 34, we learn that God calls him back up the mountain and that new stone tablets are inscribed with the Word of God.
In that 34th chapter, we hear a phrase often repeated in scripture, but too seldom reprinted on bumper stickers. It is a phrase which sums up God’s relationship with us. Here, the words are actually spoken by God, “The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
It is because of God’s mercy and grace that those former Egyptian slaves are given a second chance. It is because of God’s mercy and grace that Christ comes among us. It is because of God’s mercy and grace that we are able to extend love and kindness to one another. It is all possible because of God’s mercy and grace.
What a fitting thought to end our year together. As we conclude the academic year and prepare for summer, might we retain as our mantra, “The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Might it govern our actions over the summer; might it give us impetuous to return home and reconfigure the relationship of our childhood into adult relationships. And above all, might it provide the assurance we need in order to live lives confident of God’s presence in our lives. Let us strive to take on those Commandments, as a way of illustrating to the world that God is our god and that we are indeed one of God’s children.
I have benefited greatly from these electronic exchanges. I pray that they might have opened the way for God to have blessed your life, too. I will return to writing when school resumes, that date is August 18.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Chris
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