The Shema is a traditional Jewish prayer taken from Deuteronomy 6:4. Most Jews receite this prayer at the beginning of both their morning and evening prayers. Author Scott McKnight blends some of the tradition of the Shema and the essential message of Christ into something he calls, the Jesus Creed.
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
As a Lenten meditation, McKnight challenges his readers to receit this creed every morning and evening for forty days, allowing the essential message of Christ to be always on our mind.
I’ve been thinking a lot about Lent this year. Specifically, about how it has not been a part of my life at all up until this point and I’ve been looking for ways to integrate it. Traditionally, Lent has been a forty day period leading up until Easter and a time for Christian’s to prepare themselves for the remembrance and celebration Christianity’s most significant event: the death and resurrection of Christ.
Growing up, my church didn’t make much mention of Lent. I’m not sure why, but I think it probably seemed too Catholic for us. We’re mostly over that now, and I’ve started really see the beauty of communal traditions like this one. There’s something about joining in with people from all different cultures and even different times for the purpose of pausing to remember what Christ did. So, reciting the Jesus Creed seems like a good place to start. As for the other traditions, I don’t think I’m quite ready to take part in Ash Wednesday, but count me in for pączki day!
For more info, see the Jesus Creed » 40 Day Challenge
