To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind is to reflect God's mercy in responding to one's neighbor. That mercy found its most profound expression in the "gospel that has come to you" - namely the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That gospel mercy comes to us again today: at the font, at the altar, and from the pulpit. It is very near to you.
In today's gospel, Jesus tells us one of the most memorable parables in time, The Parable of the Good Samaritan. You know, lately, I've been feeling anything but how a good samaritan feels. I've been all over the place at work, and don't even begin to question me about the pile of dishes in the sink (which have been taken care of). The point being, how does someone that has a very fast-paced lifestyle, actually seek out those times to be a "Good Samaritan"? The answer - make time.
Christ offers us multiple opportunities to see what we are doing wrong, and then gives us a chance to change our ways, and conform to what He preaches. Even offering us rewards, "Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous," and for what, "if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." This to me sounds like a great deal, and if I could get a two-for-one, you bet your ass I'll be the first in line.
But - as life continues on, we all recognize that following Christ isn't as easy as it was thousands of years ago. Hell, it isn't as easy as fifty years ago. Remember a time when cell phones didn't exist? Remember when there were no smartphones, and twitter, or computers? Remember when life was - I don't know - simple? Remember when we used to give praise to the Lord and "rest on the seventh day"? These are things that just aren't possible in today's world. . . or at least not possible without an effort, and that's the problem in and of itself - making the time.
My wonderful praise team is performing a song today that really pulls this message together. The song: Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies), by: Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Scott Cash. This song is such a perfect message for those looking to have their prayers answered. "You hear me when I call. You are my morning song. Though darkness fills the night, it cannot hide the light. Whom shall I fear?" What a great message - even though this world surrounds me with hate, violence, and discrimination against peoples that aren't like me, nothing can cover the Glory of God! Sure, sometime's His message gets misconstrued, however, we really need to start looking past what scares us - racism, homosexuality, etc. Everyone is a member in Christ, and we need to recognize that, because if we don't, we aren't "loving thy neighbor as thyself."
Let us pray: O Lord God, your mercy delights us, and the world longs for your loving care. Hear the cries of everyone in need, and turn out hearts to love our neighbors with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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