Winding Down Reflections on Mark 12

 

Two weeks ago, I invited you to hold this passage from Mark 12:28-31 close to your heart:

 

²⁸ One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰ 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.’ ³¹ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 

We dove headfirst and dwelled in this passage by pointing out that there are three invitations: love God, others, and self. 

 

Two weeks ago, I invited you to make a chart with seven rows for each day of the week and three columns for how you might live each of those invitations.  How you were going to love God on Tuesday (perhaps by walking outside paying attention to the sights, smells, and sounds); love others perhaps at that meeting or Bible study; and love yourself on Friday (which for me is the day I enjoy a bowl of ice cream as a celebration for the end of a week!). 

 

Last week, we learned from and listened to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. peach and teach about the Beloved Community as one way to expand and explore how to love God, self, and others.  We named and claimed that loving others is hard, holy work.  Other people can be like onions with layers, thank you Shrek.  We learned that others do things and say things ~ we think we understand ~ but honesty we don’t always know why we do what we do…so how in the world can we proclaim that we know exactly why your neighbor did what your neighbor did?  We are a mystery to ourselves and others. 

 

So, how do we really love others?  How do we really love ourselves?  How do we love God?  The more we spend time with this simple, seemingly straight-forward, down-to-earth, easy to understand (we thought) verse from Scripture, the more complicated and complex it is.  Which is why the chart can be helpful tool every week.  We need to be aware and awake to ways we can embrace and embody these words.  We need to be intentional in how we love others/ourselves/God ~ writing our intentions down.  Otherwise, we will tell ourselves, “Oh I am totally loving God,” as we post something on social media that blames and shames others while portraying ourselves as awesome.  Otherwise, we will tell ourselves, “I am totally loving others,” as we gossip about that person who did that thing. 

 

As Carrie Newcomer says, “Love easy.  People are hard.”  Yup.  I invite you to consider the chart again as a prayer practice and posture.  One caution, be careful that this isn’t about control.  Sometimes, I think, I will love others at that afternoon meeting Tuesday and can then miss the opportunity to show compassion and care when I am interacting with someone Tuesday morning.  We name the specific, so that we can be open to the unexpected.  The chart is not the only time, but it one time you will intentionally try to embrace and embody what Jesus said was the greatest way to life is through the threshold and doorway of loving. 

 

Prayer: God who loves order in chaos, help me also be open to the unexpected ways You show up unannounced in my life outside of my neat and tidy chart.  Open my heart, O God, to let Your love You fill me with flow forth.  Amen.