Readings Dt 6:2-6; Heb 7:23-28; Mk 12:28b-34

What a wonderful Gospel for this Sunday because in this country by the middle of the week some will be complaining the election did not turn out fair. This would be because their preferred candidate did not win. This gospel reading today reminds us that no matter the outcome of an election, the nasty remarks someone may have made against us we are still called to Love our neighbor. 

Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, 
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”

This is not just talking about our next-door neighbor who we may like, but also the one who had the political sign in opposition to our own personal belief. Our political beliefs should not affect the love of our neighbor who may harbor different political beliefs. Jesus loved all of us including those who persecuted him and sentenced him to the crucifixion. Now that was some dirty poilitics.

Are we capable of this kind of love? I believe we are capable of this type of love, because we are called to have a relationship with Christ, THAT makes us capable. The question we really need to be asking is this, “Do we WANT to show this kind of love to everyone?” Christ reminded the scribe that since he was aware of this teaching and understood it he was not far from the Kingdom of God. To get closer and be part of the Kingdom we need to put this into practice. 

We have a great week to begin to put this into practice as the election finally arrives on Tuesday. We will all be happy when the political ads are gone from TV and the signs in the yards go away. We will be happy when the rhetoric stops from all the campaigns going on. The question is, will we lose friends over their choice for elected office. We should never lose friends over political disagreement.

This call to a Love greater than we believe we are capable of was not new to Jesus as we heard this call in the reading from Deuteronomy today. This Love is also NOT the emotional type of love we hear about in music and see in Hallmark movies. That emotion is an extension to the Love we are called to. 

Unconditional love is the love that God has for us. It is also the love most of us have for our families. It is the same love dogs tend to have for their owners. This love leads to the willingness to sacrifice for those we love. This sacrificial love is what we are all called to provide to those around us. This means if we see a person struggling we are called to help them. It does not matter their political affiliation, their favorite sports team or if they look different than us. We are called as Christians to help them in some way. 

When we begin to look at everyone in this way we begin to see the dignity that is inherent in all people no matter their race, gender, political affiliation or any of the other labels that tend to be bandied about to begin to separate us. When we let these labels, whatever they are separate us we play right into Satan’s hands. 

Satan loves to divide, because he knows that when we are divided for any reason it is easier for him to make us believe these differences are something worth separating us. No longer can disagreements over something be considered an opportunity to bring us closer. These disagreements now begin to push us further apart. We end up only listening to those people who may agree with our viewpoint and forget to even listen to those with opposing views. 

These opposing views should actually be what brings us together, not separates us. When we listen to opposing views, we may hear something we actually agree with. This would then lead to a conversation resulting in a solution to the disagreement. 

Even if we disagree with everything from the opposing view, we will have at least given the person the proper dignity in listening to their argument. Then our response needs to be done from a stance of love, even though it will be the opposite argument. When we begin to do this there are times when we can agree to disagree, and everything will be ok. When there needs to be a decision made, we need to ensure that the outcome of that decision positively impacts those in need. 

The reading from Deuteronomy today reminds us

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength. 
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”

These words remind us not only of the love we are to have for God, but also for all of those who are created in his image and likeness. Meaning we don’t get to pick and choose who will help when they are in need. It means we are called to assist all of those in need. From the prisoner on death row for a heinous crime to the baby in the womb who has no voice to speak for themselves. It also means the elderly who need more assistance as they age, to the single mother needing help to feed her children. 

These examples show the difference between the emotional love that we like to talk about and see acted out on screen and the unconditional love which God has for each and every one of us. God loves us so much that we are given the freedom to turn our back on his love. His love is so strong even if we choose to turn our back on him, he gives us the opportunity to turn back to him and receive his mercy and love that never went away.

When we choose to live a life of Christ like love for everyone there is no guarantee we will not suffer. It only guarantees that we will show by our example the way to find the Kingdom of God. We will probably be mocked, made fun of and taken advantage of. The people who do this to us will need to deal with the judgement of God on these things. Being mocked, made fun of or taken advantage of are not excuses not to love like Christ. We just need to remember that if people do this to us, they did much worse to the prophets and Christ who tried to give them directions to the Kingdom. In the case of seeking the Kingdom of God it is always worth asking for directions. Are we ready to live out a life of love for ALL of our neighbors?