Loyalty and Love: An All Saints Celebration

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MARK 12: 28-34(MESSAGE)

One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!”

When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”  After that, no one else dared ask a question.

This is the alternate or “ordinary” text for the Sunday in which we observe All Saints’ Day.  Not a bad text to help us to think about the saints in our lives is it?  Who has taught you to love?  Who has loved you no matter what?  Who has shown you how to love yourself and to love others?  Who are the people who have modeled the kind of love that Jesus talks about in this lesson?

With loving people who teach us that love doesn’t occur absent from conflict or struggle, we have examples of real flesh and blood saints who model what John Wesley would call striving toward perfection.  By their lives, these saints help us be better people. 

Please join us at Christ Church at 10:00a.m. this Sunday, November 4  as we think about the people in our lives who lived the Greatest Commandment by loving God and neighbor alike, and from whose love we learn about loyalty and commitment. Also during this special worship service, we will remember those who have helped Christ Church become who we are as we name the saints in our family of faith during Holy Communion.  Saints and sinners are welcome.

Don’t forget:  This weekend the time changes.  Please set your clocks back an hour and relish the extra sleep.  Looking forward to seeing you bright eyed on Sunday morning!