Last Sunday after Trinity
Leviticus 19.1–2, 15–18 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8 Matthew 22: 34-46
I am not the greatest fan of police programmes on the television. Yes, they may be on but I generally find I'm doing something else but watch them. That is until my attention is forcibly directed towards the television. If a police car is shown in full pursuit of another car, or dashing off to investigate an emergency call, the probability is high that it will have its blue and twos on. That is where the trouble lies, where my concentration is broken. For some reason our dog, when it hears Blues and twos, sits up and howls. Nothing will stop her but to switch off to another programme. Actually, the prologue to Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado has the same effect on her.
What can be the relationship between the police car involved in a chase and making its presence known and the music of the Mikado prologue introducing the twists and turns taking place in a region of Japan? The answer must lie in law and order. In the one instance the police car is racing to a scene where law and order has broken down in all probability, and in the other instance we are treated to the twists and trials of a love relationship in Japan involving the Emperor, his son, the Chief of Staff who holds so many positions and is easily corruptible, and the Emperor’s intended.
The Collect, special payer, for today contains the line, “Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:”. I am not too sure how large a pile of books and documents, of scrolls and tablets that would be but we can gain a little understanding when we look at the books of the law that are on the tables in the Houses of Parliament. And they are but a small part of our legal history. Laws form the base for any country. It is upon them that we know what we can and cannot do.
Most people are under one law regime or another. For instance, in our country, almost every law can find its base in the second of the Two Commandments. But we are jumping the gun here. Looking at the first of the Two Great Commandments we are instructed to love God. It is a love which emanates from our heart, soul and body. It is a complete love. It means that to God we must give a total love, a love which dominates our emotions, a love which directs our thoughts, and a love which is the basis of our actions.
As we look at the Second Great Commandment, we note that the love of God comes first. It must come first before we can consider any other love. It is only by loving God can we entertain loving anyone else. So, who is it that we are loving? They are not a bundle of bones, a collection of chemical elements, the result of Darwin’s principle of Creation.
Whoever we are, whoever they are that is the object of our affection, God comes into it right at the very beginning. We are all made in the image of God. The love of God comes first then the love of everyone else. It is only by loving God are we able to love others. By loving God humanity is lovable. Here is the basis of life. It lies in the love of God. If we take away that love then our view of humanity becomes tainted. We look at our fellow humans in an uncaring and heartless fashion.
Should we cast to one side that love of God then we can only fall back on the desires and wishes that are frequently driven by a desire for riches and wealth. In going down that path we can tend to leave God to one side. Many of our actions may still prove to be highly commendable and socially acceptable. We may still be seen as pillars of our community, involved in good works and care for our fellows, but without God there is not quite that same level of love. Our heart may well be fully involved in what we are doing but it will not be with that spark of love that we have taken on board that comes from God.
What is that love which we are encouraged to accept and follow? It is to love God, but not only God but to love all of humanity which God has created in his own image. To love both God and humanity with a truly enfolding cloak of totality. That is a cloak which contains a total commitment to God which is seen as a true devotion to him, and a realistic preparedness to serve our fellow humanity in any and all practical ways.
Collect for the Last Sunday after Trinity
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.