Links for today’s readings:
Read: Leviticus 5 Listen: (3:35) Read: Acts 2 Listen: (6:35)
Scripture Focus: Leviticus 5:4-5
4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.
Reflection: Awareness is the Signal
By Erin Newton
Ignorance is bliss—but ignorance doesn’t erase guilt. Leviticus 5 addresses two types of ignorance: doing something wrong unintentionally and doing something wrong through haphazard agreements or careless actions.
The story of Watergate is a well-known historical event about political corruption, named after the hotel where political operatives broke into the opposing party’s headquarters and planted recording machines to eavesdrop on their competition. What is less known is the story of Chuck Colson. Colson was Special Counsel to President Nixon during this time. According to his memoir, when the truth about the Watergate scandal was uncovered, Colson felt the Spirit’s conviction to confess to his participation in some of the illegal actions. His previous cavalier disregard for what was right was abruptly interrupted by awareness. He confessed, was convicted, and spent seven months in prison.
The story shocked the world. Who would admit to such a thing? Especially someone with so much power to get away with it. Who wouldn’t fight back? Yet, when someone does something wrong and confesses (such as Colson’s no contest plea), it is a moment of integrity.
Leviticus 5 highlights the reality that people are creatures of impulse, rash decision-making, and limited knowledge. We are gullible, ignorant, self-centered, distracted, and so easily duped. But such shortcomings are not swept aside. Ignorance is not a valid biblical excuse for error.
Awareness, offering, and making amends in our relationship with God are necessary. It is more than an apology or admitting an error was made. Verse 5 (and our character) hinges on the word “when.” There is an expectation that awareness will come. How? By knowing truth, seeking wisdom, looking inward, and assessing outward. We are not meant to pursue and guard ignorance.
Plausible deniability is not a virtue God desires.
How do we become aware of our own ignorance? By being present, here and now, with your own life, your relationships and commitments. What are you tied to and invested in? Do you really know that person? That organization? That community? Where have you been and where are you trying to go? Look at your own history and past involvements. Keenly observe the direction you are headed (and with whom).
Where the Spirit convicts, admit errors and make amends.
In each of these areas, awareness is the path to freedom. The difficulty is that awareness demands an action, a correction, a confession.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6 (KJV)
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.
Read more: Jesus, Our Restorer
Jesus not only rebuked Peter, telling him to put his sword back in its place, he put Malchus’s ear back in its place, healing him with a touch.
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