Love Thy Neighbor
AM Psalm 56, 57, [58] • PM Psalm 64, 65
Deut. 30:1-10 • 2 Cor. 10:1-18 • Luke 18:31-43
As I am writing this morning, there is news of a ceasefire in the Middle East. Thanks be to God! I am grateful for the intervention of other nations in brokering this peace in the region and pray that it will hold until the time that you are reading this reflection and, hopefully, far beyond.
Delving into the reading from Deuteronomy, in verse 5 Moses tells the people of Israel that “God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it…” which seemingly lays the foundation for much of the problematic scenario we still see today between Israel and Palestine. Later, in Verse 7, he proclaims that “The Lord your God will put curses on your enemies and on the adversaries who took advantage of you.”
I am challenged by the notion that God chooses sides in any military conflict. This bestowing of blessings upon God’s “chosen people” and curses befalling their enemies seems antithetical to the message that we are ALL beloved children of God. How does this bear with the gospel of the New Testament, when Jesus tells his followers that the second greatest commandment is “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”?
Literally reading between the lines of these two verses, Deut. 30:6 may hold the answer: “… the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants…” What is meant by the “circumcision of the heart” has been widely discussed—John Wesley even wrote a sermon on the topic in 1733, in which he described it as radical change and inner transformation. I want to believe that in an actual, physical way, our hearts (and, thereby, our desires and actions) can be changed by God. This seems to be the true blessing bestowed upon us.
The political complexities of the Israel/Palestine situation are immense and filled with so many years of conflict. Let us pray that God will circumcise the hearts of all people and bring us towards a lasting peace.
Written by Shannon Mitchell
...who is grateful that we can come together for worship in the church building again.