One of the many recommendations that the Lord gives to his people through Moses is “not to forget”. Many times, God asks his children to “remember,” that is, to bring back to their hearts all that He has done for them, all that they have seen and experienced. Forgetting is perhaps one great “disease,” if we can call it that, which causes us to lose our way and the sense of belonging to a family, a people, or a nation. Remembering the good we have received makes us feel good and encourages us to do more good.
Listen to the Word
In today’s first reading, God calls the people of Israel not to forget the experience of His presence in their lives and in history; He also calls each of us to observe His law, which springs from listening to His Word of life. These are not simple rules to be observed, but a concrete response to His Love for every man. Love is not made of words, but of concrete actions that testify to the love received. Then the observance of the law will no longer be an imposition for us, but an inner need to express love to God and to our brothers.
Remember
I believe there is only one way to avoid forgetting, and that is to remember what God does every day in our lives. And to do this, we need to take some time off to reflect. That means that we must not be superficial. Sometimes, when everything is going well in our lives, the risk is to take things for granted; to look ahead without being grateful for every little gift.
The same risk can occur when things are going badly. We may tend to forget the good things God has done and continues to do in our lives. If we face the days with superficiality, they all seem the same, time seems to pass inexorably, and life risks seeming repetitive.
Just take out time every evening thinking back to the day that has passed, and we will notice the many small and large signs with which God makes Himself ever present to us. And they are always different signs, sometimes not visible at first glance, but then, if we train ourselves, we realise that they allow us to look at things with a different view, which helps us not forget anything.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to forget, but to keep in my heart what I have seen and experienced thanks to you.
