Through the mitzvos, we can feel Hashem and His love for us. The mitzvos have the power to transform us. When we appreciate and internalize the mitzvos and their essence, we become different. Our entire avodas Hashem—learning, davening, Shabbos Kodesh—they’re all elevated and different, because we have tapped into Hashem’s eternal and unconditional love.
How many thousands of Yidden live with the yearning, halevai they would taste the feeling of Shabbos Kodesh.... But it’s doesn’t seem to happen for them. He tries this eitzah and that tactic, but he doesn’t develop a feeling for the holiness of Shabbos Kodesh. The same applies to davening... it doesn’t go...
How do we develop a feeling for matters of avodas Hashem? The answer is that all these matters of avodah depend on our emotional connection with Hashem. When we ask a person, “How do you feel about your connection with the Ribbono shel Olam? Do you feel that you’re emotionally connected with Him?” this person may not be able to answer honestly.... But if a Yid davens, and he thereafter sees that Hashem performed a miracle for him, his davening will take on another dimension and another level... טוב להודות לה’! How does he talk to Hashem now? There’s a connection! He feels the Ribbono shel Olam and His Presence in his life.
This is the avodah of the mitzvos hayom of Purim, an exalted avodah of recognizing—through the mitzvos of Megillah and of giving to others—how much Hashem loves us unconditionally, and this is, of course, the basis for the fourth mitzvah: rejoicing and being joyful for our great lot in life of receiving Hashem’s unconditional love.
