One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing
with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well,
he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus
answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God,
the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all
with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well,
he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus
answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God,
the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment
greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right,
Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him
there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with
all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love
one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all
and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment
greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right,
Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him
there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with
all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love
one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he
answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom
of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom
of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
This weekend I was at the Diocesan Convention in Massachusetts as a new employee, one of three Regional Canons. I have been thinking a great deal about my ministry and where it has taken me. And I have been thinking about all the Saints who have brought me to this place, safe thus far. None of us does this walk of faith alone, and our faith is always a gift and never something we control by will, skill or intellect. We walk in love, as others have before us and we share that love which is not ours to hold onto.
Jesus is being questioned again by a religious leader. He answers with what he had learned as a child, and what he had learned to live writ large. We are called to love God and love our neighbor. Nothing else we do is of any more importance than loving God and others. It seems relatively simple, yet looking back, those who loved me, those saints who lived for others, transformed my world and left indelible marks of love for future generations.
As this day and weekend come to a close, I want to thank God for the Saints - living and crossed over - who have brought love into my life and who showed me how to live that love. May we all honor those who have loved us by living and sharing that transforming love.
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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