not a conquered but a freed people - 16th week Friday

Our first reading today says - “I, the LORD am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.” These first words are very important because they make the difference as to how we look at the commandments of God. 

In ancient past when a king conquers a nation and its people, he would make an agreement with the conquered people by recalling his victory over them.  Then he will set out the terms that the people would obey and follow.

In the introduction to the 10 commandments God also recalls his victory.  However, the speech does not speak of a conquered people.  Instead it speaks of a people delivered from slavery, freed from servitude. 

If we were a conquered people then these commandments would be a burden which we will carry grudgingly.  Keep holy the Lord’s day.  Ambot a masimba naman ta.

But we are not a conquered people.  The commandments are not loads to be carried or burdens that weigh us down or restrictions to our freedom.  In truth they will preserve our freedom, they will give directions to our life and they will make us happy.

You shall not have other gods besides me.  You want to be free and happy, be loyal only to God.  When money, fame, power, get the better of us and earn our loyalty, it is common knowledge how these can make our lives miserable.  We just have to look into the newspaper.  So this commandment is not a burden but it will preserve our freedom. 

 “Keep holy the Sabbath day.  Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.”  Go ahead work and work and work and work. And what is the greatest killer – it’s not small pox, it’s not ebola, it’s not heart disease.  It is stress.  The Sabbath rest is not a burden that enslaves us, rather it preserves our freedom. So rest a while.