Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

Do today’s troubles cause your soul unease. Looking for a solution. Look to the scriptures in the Holy Bible. Not a Christian! Look anyway if you are puzzled by our society and the divisions that we see in this great experiment we call Democracy. If crazy people sending pipe bombs in the mail or a hate crime by some lunatic going on a killing spree in a Jewish Synagogue troubles you there is an answer waiting for you. Take for example the scripture listed in the Revised Common Lectionary for this coming Sunday.

Mark 12:28-34
12:28 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?” 12:29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 12:30 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.’ 12:31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 12:32 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’; 12:33 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.” 12:34 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.

No exceptions, no doubt, just two Jewish people agreeing that loving your neighbor is the really good way to live your life. There is no exception. There is no reason to hate. There is only love. All there is left to do is love to be closer to the kingdom of God.

I also want to say a very big “THANK YOU” to the congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church for the Pastor’s Appreciation Gift and lunch. Jane and I love each and every one of you. A special thank you to Jan Day for the guilty verdict during the trial and for her planning efforts.

Pastor Randy