A word from Compline

As you know the Church has no Saturday nights. The First Vespers of Sunday take the place of what ought to be Saturday night. The little chapter for that Compline includes the Shema, the quintessential kernal of the Hebrew Scriptures:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.

I think that it might be a bit unfair to put this important passage for use so late at night. Compline is meant to be said right before going to sleep. I found it difficult for my drowsey head to even begin to engage the message. It is just too big for that late at night/early in the morning.

God is Love, and the giver of all gifts. Only God can give us this love, of our heart, soul, might. God, who is mighty, be mighty in your gifts to us!