Sunday Reflection upon Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Many of you may recall the phrase ‘taking care of business’ from an earlier era. In the context of Deuteronomy and the Church, ‘taking care’ is not just a suggestion but a responsibility. It means to be diligent and faithful in following the Lord’s commandments. The Lord’s message to the ancient Israelites and their Scripture story is a testament to their struggles to ‘take care and watch themselves closely.’ We, too, are called to this responsibility.

Less we lean toward Christian triumphalism; this Scripture Reading reminds us to also ‘take care’ because we know from the history of Christianity that we have failed more than once when it comes to revealing to the world God’s love and compassion shown in Jesus Christ. Our history is marked by instances where we strayed from love and compassion, often resorting to judgment and condemnation. Nevertheless, in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, we ‘take care’ to continue the tradition of ‘remembering the night in which the Lord gave himself up for us,’ a sacrifice that we should always hold in reverence and gratitude.