FRIDAY, March 4

Deuteronomy 5:1-22. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us.

Most of us are short-sighted, thinking only of the present moment, the near past, and the near future, and always in relation to ourselves—what happened yesterday or last year to us and what might happen tomorrow or next year to us. We rarely consider generations long ago, generations yet to come, and our relationship to them. But we are part of ongoing, evolving communities stretching back into the past and forward into the future; we are accountable to those who came before us and those who will follow after us. Nation states are based on this understanding.

Christians and Jews are part of such a community, initiated by God and spanning the centuries in both directions. We inherit a legacy from the great saints of history, and future generations will inherit a legacy from us. Across the ages we are accountable to one another—and to God. In today’s reading, Moses reminds the Israelites that the Lord made his covenant on Mt. Sinai not only with their ancestors, but with them as well.

Africans grasp this better than most Americans. The African concept of ubuntu sees all persons—past, present, and future—as linked. We are a single community; we thrive only when all thrive.

PRAY for the Diocese of Mbamili (Prov. of Niger, Nigeria)

Ps 16, 17 * 22; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Matthew 7:13-21

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Mar 04, 2011 at 10:12 am

Written by Ann Delea,

Aren't we talking about the ten commandments here? Despite some people's misuse of them as weapons in the political wars, they are a wonderful rule for us, and are as true today as they were when first given to us.

ubuntu

Mar 04, 2011 at 10:18 am

Written by Ruth,

The African concept of ubntu reminds me of one of my favorite Christian concepts - the communion of saint. As a child I learned that primarily as related to those who had died and gone to be with God. As some point its meaning grew for me and now my understanding of the communion of saints includes all of us: living, deceased, and yet to come.

...

Mar 04, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Written by E. Linda Cushner,

The other day I was speaking with a woman born of a different ethnic background. She was leaving and I said "good by" to her. I then asked her to say it back to me her language. She replied that there is no word for "good bye" in her language, instead the saying means "good bye until I see you again or until you return." How very meaningful, I thought; for we truly never say "good bye" to our ancestors. As Christians and Jews we carry the past and the future with with us, although we now live in the present. We look forward to seeing our ancestors one day and we pray for the children of the future so we truly never say say "good bye". Christ made us part of His community and longs for all of us to be conscience of our brothers and sisters in the communion of saints.

Yes

Mar 04, 2011 at 10:31 pm

Written by E. McCartney,

Yes, what you wrote is very accurate. We are usually only concerned with our generation and if if came before us or after us we look at it with suspicion. When I say we I mean Westerners of all sorts - those who have been here for generations.

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