Saturday, December 26, 2009

Coveting Day


In the New Year, leading up to the beginning of Lent, I will do a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments. At no time during the three-year lectionary cycle do we get a chance to ponder the commandments, so I will address five during this period and the other five at another time. But which ones to choose?

On Boxing Day I'm thinking that "you shall not covet" would be a good choice. I can covet with the best of them. Last evening we were all poring over the flyers, looking for great bargains. In the end I decided that I will go the gym this morning rather than wrestle with the crowds at some big box store. I received some wonderful gifts yesterday and I want for nothing. How is it that I convince myself that I absolutely must have more, and more, and more?

Before Christmas some of the pundits were suggesting that we are suffering from "austerity fatigue," weary of restraint after nearly a year of recession. How ridiculous! We are not defined by our stuff, or the desire to purchase.

Which commandments would you like addressed? How about that coveting thing?

Happy shopping!

3 comments:

Laurie said...

Not out shopping. I could not handle the crowds and I hate shopping at the best of times.
I always liked the "Socialist Ten Commandments" better then the biblical ones. They socialist ones make more sense in my mind.

roger said...

I'm normally the last person on earth who would want to fight the crowds on Boxing Day, however since family members were insisting on going and equally insisting on my driving, I reluctantly went. The ironic thing is that I ended up buying more than anyone else! Can't wait for next year's Boxing Day sales! What is happening to me???

David Mundy said...

We can set up an intervention for you Johnny, if you have similar inclinations next year. Once you're hooked...

The Socialist Ten Commandments are all fine, and most echo sentiments upheld in the Judeo-Christian tradiiton. I like the directness of "you shall not kill" and "you shall not covet." Nothing specific in those other commandments about honouring parents. And I do have a bias toward God.

Thanks for your responses.