Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
On occasion, I enjoy a cup of steeped black tea.
The preparation of the Earl Gray or English Breakfast drink is as enjoyable as
sipping the warm liquid. I fill the kettle with water and turn the heat up to almost
boil. Then I dip tea leaves into the sieve in the top of my ceramic tea pot,
pour the hot water over, and allow the tea to flavor the water. Without the
little screen or sieve the leaves and stems would fall in the cup. Yuck.
What does a cup of tea have to do to with loving
God and loving people? It’s all about the filter. When one of the “important” Pharisees
in the community asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied “‘Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind… And…Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our minister (thanks Kenny)
pointed out in his sermon last week that as a disciple of Christ I need to apply
this command as a filter for everything I do. Yes— everything. Before I speak,
act, pray, worship, work, prepare for my day, help my neighbor, go to the
grocery store, talk to my spouse, I need to run my thoughts and actions through
the sieve of love. Every commandment and law hangs on this— loving God and loving
people. And what a joy to know that God loves me back!
To read more about love, go to 1 Corinthians
13:4-8.
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