November 17, 2024 Reflection

Our reading for today is to me the elevator speech of Christianity. These words carry a weight that holds fast through the ages and remains incredibly relevant to our modern lives, maybe even more now than ever before. Jesus calls us to a deep and radical love—love that transcends barriers, challenges societal norms, and confronts injustice with grace. We are going to look at how these two commandments, love of God and love of neighbour, intersect and call us to live with courage and compassion.

Jesus begins with the call to love God fully—“with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” What does it mean to love God with such totality? It means that our faith cannot be compartmentalized, tucked away into a private corner of our lives only to emerge on Sundays. Rather, it permeates our every decision, our actions, and even our dreams for the world.

In the world today, many wrestle with faith and how it can transform society. The ongoing conversations around climate change, for example, challenge us to love God by caring for God’s creation. This stewardship is not just a duty but an act of worship. The devastating atmospheric river that brought floodwaters through our neighbourhoods, reminds us that our love for God is intricately tied to our respect for this beautiful earth God has entrusted to us. Protecting our environment becomes a holy act, an expression of our love and reverence for the Creator.

Globally, the challenges of war, famine, and injustice call us to love God by seeking peace and advocating for justice. The teachings of Jesus don’t allow us to ignore the suffering of our global neighbours. So we must ask ourselves: Are our prayers, words, and actions aligned with that great love we know from God that will create a world, where peace and justice reign?

The second part of Jesus’ teaching is equally profound and maybe even more difficult: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” This commandment is not a suggestion but a fundamental aspect of what it means to follow Jesus. Yet, in our increasingly polarized world, this kind of love often feels daunting, even impossible. The divisions we see—politically, culturally, and ideologically—seem insurmountable. And yet, Jesus challenges us to love deeply and courageously.

Consider our context, where the painful legacy of residential schools and colonization reverberates through Indigenous communities. Loving our neighbour means not only acknowledging this past but actively working toward reconciliation. It involves listening to the stories of survivors, educating ourselves about the truth, understanding the systemic inequalities that persist today, and committing to meaningful change.

It also calls us to honour the inherent dignity of every person, and to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures that make up our nation.

Reconciliation is not just about policies or apologies but about building genuine, loving relationships where each person is valued. It requires humility, respect, and a willingness to learn from one another. We are invited to love across lines of difference, much like Jesus did, and to hold space for grace in our interactions.

Jesus himself loved in ways that defied the conventions of his time. He healed the sick, ate with sinners, and welcomed those who were marginalized. He engaged in conversations with those who society deemed unworthy or unclean. Today, loving our neighbour may look like standing in solidarity with refugees, advocating for the unhoused, or working to dismantle racism and inequality. It means recognizing the humanity in those who may think, look, or act differently from us. It means instead of assuming a stranger who looks different than us must be up to no good, we take the time to go over to them and ask their name and find out who they are and what we might have in common.

We live in an era where migration and displacement are daily realities for millions around the world. Shelters are overwhelmed, and many families are struggling to find stability. As followers of Jesus, our love must drive us to action. It might mean volunteering with local organizations, donating resources, or simply offering a listening ear to those in need. This is how we embody the love of Christ.

While the call to love may seem overwhelming, there are countless stories of hope where people are living out this commandment in tangible ways. In most major cities, faith communities come together to provide meals and shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Particularly in the Downtown Eastside, which is known to be one of our country’s most marginalized neighbourhoods, the needs are immense. Thousands struggle with poverty, addiction, and inadequate housing. Yet, there are remarkable organizations and faith-driven initiatives offering support, dignity, and community. Of course the one example that we are particularly familiar with around here is First United Church Community Ministry Society, which has been tirelessly working to provide essential services such as housing advocacy, food programs, and spiritual care. Their mission embodies the spirit of Jesus’ command to love our neighbours, as they walk alongside some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Alongside many other organizations in the Downtown Eastside, First United demonstrates that loving our neighbours means showing up with compassion, resources, and respect. These acts of kindness, though small in the grand scheme, embody Jesus’ command to love our neighbour and give hope in a place that desperately needs it.

One of the most difficult things about loving our neighbours is when we disagree with them. Whether it’s a difference of opinion on political issues or theological beliefs, conflict can strain relationships. But here, too, Jesus shows us another way. Disagreeing need not mean abandoning love and grace. In fact, loving those with whom we disagree might just be the truest test of our faith. This week I participated in the orientation meetings for 4 new Thrift Shop volunteers.  At those meetings we talk about the values of the church being the values of the shop, and what that means and how we live that out.  One of the new volunteers was a very upbeat and positive woman and she said that when she interacts with difficult or demanding or mean spirited people, she just detaches with love.  I thought this was a great example of the difficulty of this commandment.  So often I know, at least for me, if I have a negative interaction with someone, I too often allow it to determine my feelings or my outlook for that day.  But I loved this woman’s way of being – almost letting it go – letting go of the other person’s negativity so as to not allow it to impact her own outlook. Detach with love.  Detach from their negativity, so that you can continue to love and interact with others in a positive way.

In our current global climate, where debates over human rights and freedoms are heated, we are called to engage one another with respect and compassion. When polarizing topics might lead to possible division, Jesus’ command is very clear.  His commandment to love does not come with exceptions. It challenges us to affirm the dignity of every person, even when it feels difficult. As a Church, we must wrestle with how to live out this call, keeping the love of God at the forefront and prioritizing human flourishing.

Similarly, in matters of politics, whether it’s debates about health care or economic policies, our love for our neighbour must guide our responses. This doesn’t mean we all have to agree, but it does mean we must listen deeply and work together toward solutions that reflect the values of equity and compassion.

While the call to love may seem overwhelming, there are countless stories of hope where people are living out this commandment in tangible ways. These acts of kindness, though small, embody Jesus’ command to love our neighbour. We get to witness some of these tangible ways here at the church every day, with the ministry of our Thrift Shop, providing goods to those who need it at low or no cost and giving 15% of our revenue to First United’s ministry with many of society’s most vulnerable in the Downtown Eastside.  We witness it through our mental health program, offering sessions of counselling and therapy at no cost to people who are struggling on the North Shore, who might otherwise not be able to access therapy. 

Internationally, we see this power of love at work through members of our own congregation, building schools and health clinics in Myanmar and in Tanzania. Their work reminds us that love knows no borders and is not confined by political lines. Every act of compassion becomes a testament to God’s love at work in the world.

Loving God and loving our neighbour as ourselves is no simple task. It requires a strength that is beyond our human capacity. We need God. We need God’s love to show us mercy and to equip us with the grace we need to love as God loves. The story of Jesus—who loved without condition and stood up for the marginalized—inspires us daily.

But more than inspiration, we need faith. We need faith that God is working through us and within us, that no matter the strain of differing positions, we are being pulled forward into a future shaped by love. We need faith that kindness, compassion, and humility still matter and that with hard work, they have the power to transform hearts and systems.

As we reflect on Jesus’ words today, may we be inspired to love more deeply and courageously. Let our love for God overflow into our relationships with our neighbours. Let our communities become beacons of hope, where love is not just a feeling but a transformative force that brings justice and healing.

So, as we take this message out into our week ahead, we ask ourselves: How can I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind? How can I love my neighbour as myself, even when it is difficult? And remember that, in this journey, we are not alone. God’s Spirit is with us, guiding us and filling us with the strength to live out these commandments.

May our love, grounded in God’s grace, shape a better world—a world filled with kindness, respect, compassion, humility, and, above all, love. Amen.