Yesterday's lectionary group was one of our best. We ran all over the place and, while we generally ignored the second half of the pericope for Sunday, I think we found some insight for ourselves and our congregations. The greatest of these insights was from Dr. J, as usual.
"This encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees gives us the most clarity and places us in the greatest paradox. God actually tells us what is most important; love God, love neighbor, love self and sets up for us an impossible proposition; love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself."
The question arose, "then what do we do with it. We know what to do and know that we can't do it."
The answer, as far as I can tell, "keep trying - love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself. When you fail at one of those things, then love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself."
It is a kind of mantra for us Christians, the only Abrahamic faith without one. It is a mantra we should repeat to ourselves at the start of every action of every hour of every day. It is the question that our accountability partners should be asking us daily. It is the message the Church should be repeating over and over and over again every Sunday.
It is what God himself said is most important, and just because it is impossible doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
So I say it as much to you, the reader, as I do to me, "Love God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind AND love your neighbor as yourself."
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