The Law of Love... Incarnate
Friday, February 16, 2007 -- Week of 6 Epiphany; Year One
"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 948)
Psalms 102 (morning) // 107:1-32 (evening)
Isaiah 65:17-25
I Timothy 5:17-22 (23-25)
Mark 12:28-34
It is so instructive and encouraging. After all of the arguing and doctrinal disputes that have consumed the Gospel of Mark following Jesus' cleansing of the temple -- after all of this wrangling and conflict -- we get the summary of the law which crystallizes our foundation for discernment.
Everything rises or falls on love. It's all about love. Do you want to talk about health or dysfunction? (Mk. 11:20-25) Or the authority of ministry in God's name? (Mk. 11:27-33) How about faithfulness and unfaithfulness? (Mk. 12:1-12) Or a proper attitude toward the secular authorities? (Mk. 12:13-17) Theological doctrine and speculation? (Mk. 12:18-27) Find the path of love and you are "not far from the kingdom of God." (Mk. 12:28-34) "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. ...You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." Love is the bottom line.
Sure there will be plenty to argue about even if we make love our fulcrum. But how much more encouraging our arguing might be if the common reference is love?
I am cautioned by the memory that the witch-burners in Salem were able to rationalize their executions believing that they were saving the souls of the women they were burning. I'm sure they could look you in the eye with utter sincerity and tell you burning at the stake was the most loving act they could offer under the circumstances. So, given our human propensity for self-justification and rationalization, we need something more than a foundational reference to love. What does love in action look like? It seems to me that the best illustration of love in action is Jesus' life. Let the life of Jesus define what love looks like. "What would Jesus do?" is a great question.
Would Jesus burn witches? Hard to imagine. Who would Jesus bomb? Would Jesus commend today's "money changers in the Temple" if he read a report like the one this week released by UNICEF showing that children in the United States and Britain ranked last in a survey of child welfare in 21 wealthy countries? Jesus got asked about taxes in verse 13. What would Jesus say about taxes today? What would Jesus say about the relationship of wealth and power? What is love in action? What would Jesus do?
How might our answers to the conflicts and divisions in our generation be influenced if our fundamental orientation was two questions: (1) What is the most loving thing to do? (2) What would Jesus do?
Lowell
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posted by Lowell @ 7:20 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Haven't ever posted a blog message before, but often when I read your morning reflections, I've been tempted because I like the succinct way you present reflections on the readings. Today is especially meaningful. I am weary of the preoccupation with the politics of "the church." It's really not where we ordinary, non-clergy persons are living our lives.
Thanks for your encouragement. There's a part of me that wishes we all just love each other and let the divisions dissolve. I find I've got to get grounded in that love before I can face the complicated stuff or else I'm part of the problem.
Lowell
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