Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Deuteronomy 30:15-20             

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Pretty simple stuff here from dear old Moses. God is life. There are no viable options. But here is something not so simple. Life, or the attempts at life all around us, are filled with pursuit of all manner of options other than God. So what does that mean? What would the hearers of Moses think that would mean? Moses sets out clearly the divine connection that brings life. But in verse 17 there is an interesting little phrase. Here it is: “But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear ….” 

Hearing and heart. Direction and destination. All are related when it comes to pursuing God, or better, being pursued by God. Because that is the issue at hand here. Moses was making clear to God’s people-already His people-that God desired them and had provided all that made living truly living. And the way it happened was a connection of heart and hearing. “But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear” comes into play right here. And it begs this question: what are you listening to? I don’t want to say much more on this. I just want to let that question sit for you and me, realizing the way you and I respond will speak volumes regarding our heart’s direction and …. and whether or not we are truly alive. It might be good to give it some thought.