Love God-Love Neighbour
Exodus 22:21-27; 1 Thess 1:5-10; Mt 22: 34-40
Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap
Twelve times Deuteronomy says we are to love God. In fact, Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 when he gave the most important commandment as “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Mark 12:30).
Expectations, we all have them. how many of us have ever taken the time to ask what God expects from us? I believe that God has certain expectations from us. I think, at least in the New Testament, there is at least one of God’s expectations for us on every page. Here is a partial listing of God’s expectations for us as Christians: “Do not judge, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, don’t worry, love your enemies”. “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbour as yourself.” “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Well, maybe it is easy to love God and be generous and serviceable to God but Jesus says the 2nd commandment is also important. Loving our neighbour. It’s important but we know from experience that it is very difficult. It’s a huge challenge to love our neighbour.
You may remember Beatles the music sensation of the 60’s, singing “All you need is Love.” There’s no doubt that there was a great truth carried in those simple lyrics. If we were to look around the world today, it’s clear that a good dose of love would cure many of the world’s ills. But it’s easier said than done, isn’t it? I mean we have no problem loving those who are close to us, our family and friends, but what about those who are different from us?
Luke 10:29 Who is my neighbour?
In other words – “To whom do I owe my love? Is my neighbour only the person who lives next door to me? Surely, he’s got to be an Israelite?” There certainly seems to be an implication that some people are my neighbour and some people aren’t. Writings have been discovered which tell us that there was an argument between rabbis as to whether Gentile converts to Judaism could be classed as a “neighbour”. Perhaps the lawyer thought he could get Jesus embroiled in the controversy. So, Jesus comes up with a beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan. He painted a picture of someone with:
MERCIFUL LEGS-The Samaritan was walking the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, notorious for violence, and known as “the way of blood”. It’s so like the world we live in, but we can’t isolate ourselves from contact with its casualties. Jesus made the point that his “legs of mercy” took him to “where the wounded man was”.
UNDERSTANDING EYES-The Good Samaritan immediately saw the need. “When he saw the wounded man” he recognised the need.
A LOVING HEART-Jesus said that the Samaritan “took pity on him”. The compassionate power of the Samaritan’s heart forced him to do something. A heart full of compassion is always followed by action. It might result in moving into situations which, humanly speaking, might be avoided. But the love of Christ breaks down barriers. The Good Samaritan broke through the racial barrier, putting the priest and the Levite to shame.
CARING HANDS-The Samaritan ministered to the victim. Caring is costly. It took time to stop by the beaten-up man to give him first aid. Caring can cost money & time.
The modern world has changed too much. The society is becoming increasingly ungrateful and narcissistic. So, we Christians have challenges in loving our neighbour.
- It is a challenge to love others when they have hurt us. “Give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.” Deitrich Bonhoeffer.
- It is a challenge to love others when we have had a bitter life. Our own heartaches and pains sometimes cause us to be slow to love others.
- It is a challenge to love others when they have created their own troubles! “Love is my decision to make your problem my problem.” Robert Schuller. 1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
- It is a challenge to love those with whom we do not agree. “The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.” D. L. Moody. 1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”
So, my dear brothers and sisters let us love God by loving our neighbour. For our neighbour too is created in the image and likeness of God.
“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.”
-Martin Luther King JR.
