Va’etchanan – ואתחנן : “And I besought”
Torah : Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11
Haftarah : Isaiah 40:1–26
Gospel : Acts 3-5

Thought for the Week:

Deuteronomy 6:6 speaks in the future tense when it says, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:6) Jeremiah 31:33 promises that in the new covenant, God will write his Torah upon our hearts. He says, “I will put My Torah within them and on their heart I will write it.” (Jeremiah 31:33)

Commentary:

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)

In Jewish liturgy, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 is called “The Shema.” Shema (שמע) is the imperative to listen. “Shema O Israel,” Deuteronomy 6:4 says. Moses is telling Israel, “Listen up! The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” The Master regarded the Shema as the greatest and foremost commandment of the Torah. A sage once asked him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” (Mark 12:28) He answered with the words of Deuteronomy 6:4–5:

H...