Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Reflection
Last week we looked at what Jesus considered to be the most important commandment: Love God with all your heart and soul and mind.. Today we see that he wasn’t quite finished. He links the first commandment to a second which fills out, enlarges ad puts into practice the first: Love your neighbour as yourself.
It’s like the commandments are two sides of the same coin – on one side “Love God” on the other “Love people”.
The two are not separate coins. When we look at Jesus’ life we can readily see that he was someone who was able to integrate the two sides of the coins. Love God- love yourself- love others. Nowhere is there the concept of worthiness , no ifs, no buts – just love.
Now I’m a bit of a skeptic like many people, - I mean how does that even work? How do we love others? Who are these others , these neighbours we are called to love.
Jesus shows us exactly what he means and it’s not that he went around smiling and patting everyone on the shoulder. He showed a kind of love that recognized each person and their circumstances, he accepted where they were and who they were. Jesus showed a love that opened the door so transformation could happen in the individual’s life.
Love combined with compassion and Jesus healed the ill, the blind, the lame and they were freed from a life spent on the sidelines.
He saw Zaccheus up a tree and called to him and publically arranged to eat with him and his family. His open acceptance of the hated tax collector leads to Zaccheus not renouncing his profession but promising to give half his wealth to the poor and repaying anyone he might have cheated fourfold. Zaccheus turned his life around.
He met the Samaritan woman and the well and really sees her, warts and all, and she recognizes the power of his love in his offer of living water (and runs to tell her village about him).
Then there is the rich young man who comes to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus opens his arms to this young man inviting him to come and be one of his followers – all he has to do is sell all he has and the young man goes sadly away. Not every opportunity that Jesus offers is taken up but that doesn’t lessen the love with which it is offered.
The gospels are filled with examples of Jesus healing, teaching, answering questions, basically meeting people with nothing but their best interest at heart. Meeting them where they are, meeting them with whatever their past, meeting them and saying you, too, are beloved of God, you too are accepted. You too, can be in the Kingdom.
What we can see immediately is that the love Jesus offered was not a one size fits all, there isn’t a table, or a diagram, or a formula that tells you how to love others just like there isn’t one that tells you how to love yourself. It’s a practice that begins with an open heart , an open soul and an open mind.
How to be a saint? - follow the example of Jesus!
Not to be Jesus but to be the best of ourselves, to be the person God calls us to be. Love God!
Love people! But most of all start from a place where you know that you are beloved of God.
I Have Called You By Your Name
I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you;
all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name,
speak the word your soul can claim,
offer Jesus' body, given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation's ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out,
choosing faith in spite of doubt,
hold the hem of Jesus' robe, then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul,
make my wounded children whole;
go and tell my precious people they are mine.
DANIEL CHARLES DAMON
Words © 1998 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Reflection
Last week we looked at what Jesus considered to be the most important commandment: Love God with all your heart and soul and mind.. Today we see that he wasn’t quite finished. He links the first commandment to a second which fills out, enlarges ad puts into practice the first: Love your neighbour as yourself.
It’s like the commandments are two sides of the same coin – on one side “Love God” on the other “Love people”.
The two are not separate coins. When we look at Jesus’ life we can readily see that he was someone who was able to integrate the two sides of the coins. Love God- love yourself- love others. Nowhere is there the concept of worthiness , no ifs, no buts – just love.
Now I’m a bit of a skeptic like many people, - I mean how does that even work? How do we love others? Who are these others , these neighbours we are called to love.
Jesus shows us exactly what he means and it’s not that he went around smiling and patting everyone on the shoulder. He showed a kind of love that recognized each person and their circumstances, he accepted where they were and who they were. Jesus showed a love that opened the door so transformation could happen in the individual’s life.
Love combined with compassion and Jesus healed the ill, the blind, the lame and they were freed from a life spent on the sidelines.
He saw Zaccheus up a tree and called to him and publically arranged to eat with him and his family. His open acceptance of the hated tax collector leads to Zaccheus not renouncing his profession but promising to give half his wealth to the poor and repaying anyone he might have cheated fourfold. Zaccheus turned his life around.
He met the Samaritan woman and the well and really sees her, warts and all, and she recognizes the power of his love in his offer of living water (and runs to tell her village about him).
Then there is the rich young man who comes to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus opens his arms to this young man inviting him to come and be one of his followers – all he has to do is sell all he has and the young man goes sadly away. Not every opportunity that Jesus offers is taken up but that doesn’t lessen the love with which it is offered.
The gospels are filled with examples of Jesus healing, teaching, answering questions, basically meeting people with nothing but their best interest at heart. Meeting them where they are, meeting them with whatever their past, meeting them and saying you, too, are beloved of God, you too are accepted. You too, can be in the Kingdom.
What we can see immediately is that the love Jesus offered was not a one size fits all, there isn’t a table, or a diagram, or a formula that tells you how to love others just like there isn’t one that tells you how to love yourself. It’s a practice that begins with an open heart , an open soul and an open mind.
How to be a saint? - follow the example of Jesus!
Not to be Jesus but to be the best of ourselves, to be the person God calls us to be. Love God!
Love people! But most of all start from a place where you know that you are beloved of God.
I Have Called You By Your Name
I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you;
all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name,
speak the word your soul can claim,
offer Jesus' body, given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation's ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out,
choosing faith in spite of doubt,
hold the hem of Jesus' robe, then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul,
make my wounded children whole;
go and tell my precious people they are mine.
DANIEL CHARLES DAMON
Words © 1998 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188
