November 2, 2003

Mark 12:28-34

First of All

      A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest where disc jockeys invited the
listeners to call in and say the first words they spoke when they rolled out of bed that morning.  The third caller each day would be the winner. 

     The first morning, the disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?"  A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?"  On another day, a sleepy caller said, "Oh no, I'm
late for work."  Somebody else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put
out the dog last night?"  On that call a man was heard in the background saying, "No, you didn't."
     One morning, however, the third caller said something unusual.  The station
phone rang: "Good morning, this is FM-106.  You're on the air.  What did you
say when you rolled out of bed this morning?"  A man responded, "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."  There was a moment of uneasy silence, then the DJ said, "Sorry, wrong number.”
     How did you start your day today?  For pious Jews the first words each morning are always the same.  Quoting Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (the words of Moses), they say first of all, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.”  Not a bad way to start the day, is it?  The way we start the day can set the tone for all that follows.

     Of the 613 commandments pious Jews followed in the first century, Jesus focused on this one and paired it up with one from Leviticus 19:18, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  On these two, he said, depend everything else.

     Everything else.  First of all, love God and your neighbor as yourself, then everything falls into place.

     The Apostle Paul said love is patient and kind; it is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, rejoices not in the wrong but in the right and that it bears, hopes and believes all things. 

     It’s a simple commandment - one that sometimes comes easily, naturally, but at other times, we may really have to work at it!  Either way, this is what God wants from us.  Love must come first.  This is where God begins with us.  It’s where we are to begin with each other. 

     Well…that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

     Holy Communion promises us that we can return to Christ’s grace and be renewed even when our love comes up short.  Coming to this eternal well of salvation, we can drink it in and be forgiven.  Here, incredible love springs forth.  Here, love begins again.

     We received new members into the fellowship of First Church today and in a few minutes we’ll remember our “saints“ - members and friends who have gone before.  We do this not expecting faithful people past, present or future to be perfect in every way, but redeemed in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, people who have received God’s love and share that love with others. 

     How did you begin your day today?  How will you begin your day tomorrow, that first day of the rest of your life?