Living in the Spirit
November 4, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28-34
The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. –Mark 12:31-34
The quote that is burned into my brain following the Oklahoma City bombing is, “the first heart that broke was God’s”. I am sorry I do not remember who said it, but it often flashes through my mind on other occasions when hate destroys. We surely are breaking God’s heart as we dehumanize refugees, make them enemies rather than the frightened, desperate, starving people that they are. They are being used as political pawns. What would we do if we did not have food for our children and a safe place to live? What would we do if our young sons are being enticed into violent gang life? What would we do as our children die in our arms from diseases cause by the water we drink?
History tells us that we are all migrants even those who came to the Americas thousands of years ago. I was taught as a tiny child that God created the earth and all that is in it for the use of humans. The Bible in which I was schooled told me from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament that we are to welcome the stranger and to love our neighbors. We all benefit from sharing God’s abundant love.
All who claim to be followers of God need to search our souls and determine if that is what we are doing. We need to do positive actions regarding all the peoples of the earth in sharing God’s abundant love. Accepting refugees and helping them acclimate to a new culture. Working to improve life in people’s homelands awash in discord is another. If possible, we should do both. There is no room for hate or bigotry or violence in any response by followers of God.
Prayer: Lord, open doors of understanding that we might make Christlike decisions regarding our welcoming strangers and loving our neighbors. Amen.