Mark 12:28-34 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, October 31.
They had been arguing over minute issues regarding the Law. One of the Scribes asked about which is the FIRST commandment.
Jesus answered with the SHEMA... Jesus quoted both Deuteronomy 6 AND Leviticus 19. It is all about LOVE... love for God and love for Neighbor.
We are commanded to love God with all we have: heart, soul, mind and strength, according to Jesus.
We are commanded to love Neighbor as self, according to Jesus.
Nothing is greater than that. The Scribe agreed. Jesus (kind of) complimented and affirmed him.
THIS IS IT!
We can spend the rest of our lives working on this, applying it to life, relationships and our place in the world. If we love God with all our heart, soul, MIND and strength, we will strive to please God above all, and not walk away from God. We will feel that love, walk consistently with God, critically DISCERN the truth of the Kingdom and use all the strength we have to live that love ACTIVELY in our lives.
We can spend the rest of our lives working on this, applying it to life, relationships and our place in the world. If we love Neighbor as Self, we will no more want harm or lack to come to our Neighbor, who Jesus (Luke 10) defines as stranger, enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us. The word is agapao in Greek, which means to ACTIVELY COMMIT on their behalf. It is not about feelings, those we give to God. This is about obedience to God's Will for us in the world, this part of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Want to be faithful to God? Love God with all your have and love (treat) your neighbor as you love (treat) yourself.
There it is. Period. Don't complicate things.
Does it help or hurt neighbor (stranger, enemy, most vulnerable)?
Therefore, is it pleasing or displeasing, faithful or unfaithful to God?
That ends the argument.
Pastor Jamie
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