30 OTA.11; Ex 22:20-26; 1Thess 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40
What does the word Love mean today?
How do we define it?
Here are some responses by a bunch of 4 to 8-year olds when they were asked, "What does love mean?"
Karl, age 5, says: "Love is when a girl puts on perfume & a boy puts on shaving lotion & they go out and smell each other."Elaine, age 5, says: "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly & sweaty and still says he is handsomer then Robert Redford."Mary Ann, age 4, says: "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."Tommy, age 6, says: "Love is like a little old man and a little old woman who are still friends even after they know each other so well."Bobby, age 5, says: "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents & listen."Jenny, age 7, says: "There are two kinds of love. God's love. Our love. But God makes both kinds." WOW! … That last answer is worthy of a philosopher. Maybe we should listen to children more than we do. They see the world around them with clear, fresh eyes, and interpret it with clear, fresh minds. (Adapted; esermons.com)
Did you hear how the kids’ version of love is always about someone else?
The kids get right to the heart of the message of Jesus: “You shall love the Lord. Your God, with all your heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
In the time of Jesus, the rabbis would say that love of God is the “heavy law” & the love of human beings the “lighter law”. Jesus changes that.
It is the same love. As Jesus says, The whole torah (Law) and the prophets depend on these two. Everything, all of reality, depends on this love.
Lewis L. Austin, in This I Believe, wrote: "Our maker gave us two hands. One to hold onto him & one to reach out to his people. If our hands are full of struggling to get possessions, we can't hang onto God or to others very
well. If, however, we hold onto God, who gave us our lives, then his love can flow through us and out to our neighbor." (esermons.com/Austin, This I Believe)
2
The very nature of God is Love. Love is the very foundation of our faith. It’s truly love in a literal sense that makes the world go around. Sometimes we discover it in the least likely places. Mother Teresa was ministering among some of the neediest people on earth. She went into one hovel where she could see the hollowness of the children's eyes and the emaciation of the parents. They had not eaten in days. Mother Teresa had brought to the family a small portion of rice. When she presented the rice to the mother, the mother divided it … into two equal parts, & then rose to leave the room. "Where are you going?" Mother Teresa asked.
The woman answered "Next door they are hungry also."
That mother did not enjoy the affluence that you & I take for granted, but she could teach us all something about what it means to follow Jesus. (Adapted; esermons.com/Duncan)
The demand for love surpasses every legal demand; it knows no boundary of limit; it holds even in regard to one's enemy (Mt. 5:43-48).
Jesus understood how difficult this way of living could be, but he did not compromise. Those who want to follow him must make love their whole life …. not just a part time activity. We must love with our whole heart (compassion), soul (desire), & mind (decision). Love is a decision to give of ourselves & our resources personal and material. Jesus expects that our love of God & neighbor will be the center of our lives.
At this Liturgy of God’s Love for us in Christ, we can reflect on the daily news that shows us how challenging this singular message is. In a world where the word “love” is used to impress, to sell, & even to exert power, Jesus challenges us to see a different way-God’s way of love.
What does the word Love mean today?
How do we define it?
Here are some responses by a bunch of 4 to 8-year olds when they were asked, "What does love mean?"
Karl, age 5, says: "Love is when a girl puts on perfume & a boy puts on shaving lotion & they go out and smell each other."Elaine, age 5, says: "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly & sweaty and still says he is handsomer then Robert Redford."Mary Ann, age 4, says: "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."Tommy, age 6, says: "Love is like a little old man and a little old woman who are still friends even after they know each other so well."Bobby, age 5, says: "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents & listen."Jenny, age 7, says: "There are two kinds of love. God's love. Our love. But God makes both kinds." WOW! … That last answer is worthy of a philosopher. Maybe we should listen to children more than we do. They see the world around them with clear, fresh eyes, and interpret it with clear, fresh minds. (Adapted; esermons.com)
Did you hear how the kids’ version of love is always about someone else?
The kids get right to the heart of the message of Jesus: “You shall love the Lord. Your God, with all your heart, with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
This is the Shema (Dt 6:4) recited 2x/day by Jews involving the whole self.
Then Jesus adds something unique to his teaching…. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor (which for Jesus includes our enemies) as yourself. This is part of the Holiness Code (Lv 19:18) which asserts that the way to love God is manifest in love toward our neighbor. In the time of Jesus, the rabbis would say that love of God is the “heavy law” & the love of human beings the “lighter law”. Jesus changes that.
It is the same love. As Jesus says, The whole torah (Law) and the prophets depend on these two. Everything, all of reality, depends on this love.
Lewis L. Austin, in This I Believe, wrote: "Our maker gave us two hands. One to hold onto him & one to reach out to his people. If our hands are full of struggling to get possessions, we can't hang onto God or to others very
well. If, however, we hold onto God, who gave us our lives, then his love can flow through us and out to our neighbor." (esermons.com/Austin, This I Believe)
2
The very nature of God is Love. Love is the very foundation of our faith. It’s truly love in a literal sense that makes the world go around. Sometimes we discover it in the least likely places. Mother Teresa was ministering among some of the neediest people on earth. She went into one hovel where she could see the hollowness of the children's eyes and the emaciation of the parents. They had not eaten in days. Mother Teresa had brought to the family a small portion of rice. When she presented the rice to the mother, the mother divided it … into two equal parts, & then rose to leave the room. "Where are you going?" Mother Teresa asked.
The woman answered "Next door they are hungry also."
That mother did not enjoy the affluence that you & I take for granted, but she could teach us all something about what it means to follow Jesus. (Adapted; esermons.com/Duncan)
The demand for love surpasses every legal demand; it knows no boundary of limit; it holds even in regard to one's enemy (Mt. 5:43-48).
My friends Jesus is very clear….
No compromises: Love! As we approach the end of the Church year, we see Jesus teaching us how to love. The message is simple love. Love of God, neighbor, & self go hand in hand; one does not exist without the other.Jesus understood how difficult this way of living could be, but he did not compromise. Those who want to follow him must make love their whole life …. not just a part time activity. We must love with our whole heart (compassion), soul (desire), & mind (decision). Love is a decision to give of ourselves & our resources personal and material. Jesus expects that our love of God & neighbor will be the center of our lives.
At this Liturgy of God’s Love for us in Christ, we can reflect on the daily news that shows us how challenging this singular message is. In a world where the word “love” is used to impress, to sell, & even to exert power, Jesus challenges us to see a different way-God’s way of love.
“I will hear, for I am compassionate”
… is a great way to sum it all up.
(Resources: eSermons.com; Living With Christ, 10/11; America, 10/231)