Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Deuteronomy 6,4-13

'Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God is the one, the only Yahweh. You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let the words I enjoin on you today stay in your heart. You shall tell them to your children, and keep on telling them, when you are sitting at home, when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are standing up; you must fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a headband; you must write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 'When Yahweh has brought you into the country which he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give you, with great and prosperous cities you have not built, with houses full of good things you have not provided, with wells you have not dug, with vineyards and olive trees you have not planted, and then, when you have eaten as much as you want, be careful you do not forget Yahweh who has brought you out of Egypt, out of the place of slave-labour. Yahweh your God is the one you must fear, him alone you must serve, his is the name by which you must swear.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The text reports the first draft of the "Shema", the ancient prayer that every Jew still today recites every day. This invitation is like a synthesis of the whole theology of the book of Deuteronomy. Believers are called first of all to listen: here is the beginning of their faith and the heart of their entire life. They are then invited to love: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might." The love of God is the main commandment from which comes the entire Law. Without love, even the Law, which is the company of life, becomes an obstacle and a hindrance. Moses then exhorts believers, while they live in comfort, not to forget that it was God who freed them from slavery in Egypt. In continued and faithful listening believers recognize that only God is the Lord, the one who loves them, who saved them and on whom they can trust. In their total abandonment to the Lord, his people find salvation. Compliance with the Law allows Israel to remain in the love of God and to experience his power. It is a covenant with the Lord who will support them every day, freeing them from all danger.