Sunday November 3, 2024 - Proper 26
One of the scribes came near and heard the Sadducees 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 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 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. Mark 12:28-34We are just two days away from the election and many folks are anxious and worried about the outcome. Many municipalities have ordered police protection at polling places and have plans if violence breaks out. In this time of fragile democracy and deep divides in our land, we are invited today to return to the golden rule and to the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. No matter what our politics or our religious affiliations, we are called to live a life of deeply caring for our neighbors.
God's love breaks out and deepens within in us when we treat others with love, as we want to be treated. No one wants to live in fear of criticism, bullying and violence. May we have the courage and determination to follow the love commandment which calls us to love everyone we come in contact with every day.
A Sunday Litany before Election Day
Gracious Creator, your love existed before we did
you shaped this world and all the people by your hands
making us relatives who are diverse and beautiful
and who sing and pray in many beautiful tongues.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.
We live in fear today in the divides we have created
demonizing the others who are different from us
turning away from those who we do not recognize
and forgetting that you have made us all good.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.
Help us in this moment to lean into your love
may we put away all judgement and violence
turning away from criticism and attack
and replacing all we do with radical welcome.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.
The world has turned dark with hate and fear
let us sow love in every city and small town.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.
Let your love hold us and satisfy us today
for your prefect love casts out all of our fears.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us.
Make us instruments of your peace and love
and let us harmonize again with all of creation.
Lord, help us to love everyone as you have first loved us. Amen.
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