Feb.21

This section of Deuteronomy takes some time with each one of the Ten Commandments. It has the name, second law, not only because of the repeat of the Ten Commandments, but its commentary on them. The entire section is framed by worship, and this last section touches on coveting. Coveting has to mean more than mere desire, or we would all be guilty of it all of the time.  In a conservative mood, I see coveting as something that cannot be eradicated merely controlled. It is the desire for something that we do not have that can threaten to consume our good sense. In a more liberal mood, I see coveting as planning  or better, scheming, to obtain something not ours by any means necessary. It is close to obsession, perhaps. It is a step past desire into preparing for action. Perhaps coveting could be the start of yielding to temptation for possessing something or someone over whom we have no right. It crosses the line from mere acquisition to greed. Coveting threatens to make us see people not in the image of God, but as mere things, simple objects,  a means to an end, or obstacles really, to our own selfishness. Coveting places  rights in collision, or ignores the rights of others, especially when we have no right to what we so desire.

 

Lenten observance could be facing our desires, especially when they threaten to overwhelm us. It is a good time to reflect on our weak spots, where our buttons get pushed, where we most easily succumb to trials and temptations. In AA participants have to learn to change their locale and even their friends as the environment is often based on drinking. I wonder if we can or should covet the presence of God. The tempter in the wilderness is counting on Jesus coveting power, even good power, even if power would be to use God's protection. Jesus quotes from this book of the Bible in his encounter with the temptations to succumb to the desires of the people for a powerful magician instead of a suffering servant.

 

One response to coveting is a sense of gratitude. To see life itself as a gift, creation as a gift, Scripture as a gift, energizes that sense of gratitude, of being thankful for this gift. In our tradition, faith itself is a gift. It is with good reason that the church has called the Lord's Super the eucahrist, the Greek word for thanksgiving, good grace. The main prayer in the liturgy is called the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving. On the surface, the sacrament  is so unimpressive as it would not cause much coveting. These are indeed simple gifts, this bread and cup. Communion  the sharing of Jesus, sharing between and among each other and sharing sharing self and sharing possessions. Perhaps that is the best answer to the issue of coveting. It gets displaced by sharing. I still remember the look of absolute bafflement on our eldest's face when I tried to introduce the idea of sharing to her. In time, maybe even the desires would lessen. Coveting comes from isolation, a sense that we do not belong. We trick ourselves into thinking that belongings can fill that gap inside. Traditionally, we speak of Communion as a glimpse of heaven. Maybe that can help our coveting by showing how our desires pale in the face of heaven. We won't have to stand on our rights there. The push for coveting will be gone. At long last we will find peace within ourselves, peace in the presence of God. What more could we possibly need or desire?