Love God, Love Your Neighbor

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he 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 12:28-34

We have lived in many places across this country, including Maryland, New York, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Montana, Alaska and Massachusetts. We've had all sorts of neighbors, city, suburban and rural neighbors in a great diversity of lifestyles, cultures and languages. Loving one's neighbor is next only to loving God. Although Jesus and the scriptures are very clear about this, most Christians today still think they can pick and choose. "My neighbors are the ones I like, right?" Nope.

My neighbor doesn't include the guy passed out in the street, right?" Nope again. There is no limit to who is our neighbor. We show our love for God by loving our neighbor. May we be those who demonstrate the love of God by truly loving al, yes all, our neighbors today.

Loving Creator, you are the source of community

Yourself, as three in one, teaching us interdependence

we are born completely dependent and others rely upon us

and we are called to love our neighbor in all places.

We step over and look away from the street folks

we disapprove of the language, color or customs

and hide in walled-in communities avoiding neighbors

and we lose our faithfulness as we fail to love all.

O Lord, in this time of terror and pain on our streets

open our eyes and hearts to our neighbors again

help us to see your face in the stranger and neighbor

and make us ready to do all we can to truly love again. Amen.