By: Deacon Jim Brandmueller
Today’s Gospel reading provides us with very clear guidance and a message of eternal hope – for we are instructed by Jesus to keep the Lord’s Commandments, and we are assured that we have Him as our advocate. He made the ultimate sacrifice for our sake.
It is always a good thing to review and reflect upon the Ten Commandments as well as the Great Commandment. In the past the Great Commandment was recited in every Communion Service. The Ten Commandments were read at least once per month as a part of the Anglican Liturgy. More recently they have been relegated to the Penitential Order and are used less frequently by many. The petition in the Penitential Order to “incline our hearts to keep this law” demonstrated and recognized the frailty of us as human beings and our need for the Lord’s help in keeping the Law.
Important to us as witnesses for Christ is that the certain knowledge that when we fail, Jesus has promised us that He will serve as our advocate. He, through His sacrifice on the Cross, has already advocated for our salvation. In our human weaknesses, in our times of peril, we can always call upon Him as our constant guide and companion.