Mark 12:33 To
love God with all your heart, with all your understanding,
and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more
important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (NIV)
One of my favorite groups from the Seventies was a band
called ‘Lindisfarne.’ They had some great hits and their best album (yes, I am that old) was called ‘Fog on
the Tyne.’ I recently added the album to my playing list from Amazon and listening
to it took me back to those wonderful days of my High School years.
In my opinion, one of the best tracks on the album is
called ‘January Song,’ which is about how we all need one another, no matter
who we are, what age we have become, or where we live. The lyrics contain a
very simple verse, which still speaks to me today:
‘And love is
such a small word
For something that is so vast,
But in it lies the future
The present and the past.’
For something that is so vast,
But in it lies the future
The present and the past.’
When Jesus was having a conversation with the teacher of
the law in today’s Gospel story (Mark
12:28-34), I think He was trying to convey something similar. Christ was
impressed by what the law teacher said in reply to His statement about the
Greatest Commandment. The cleric appeared to completely understand what Jesus
was expressing. Love of God and loving one another are meant to be combined –
it is such a small requirement, and yet it contains everything that we truly
need to live faithful, meaningful, and joyful lives on Earth.
Point to ponder
How many people do I truly love? How does that love
include God and make the world a better place?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, we all need Your love and need to learn to love everyone. We want to
make a difference in our lives, so help
us to spread Your love wherever we can and with all
whom we meet this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
If you would like to
listen to Lindisfarne’s ‘January Song,’ you can do so at this Youtube link:
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church
website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is the album
cover from Lindisfarne’s ‘Fog on the Tyne.’
No comments:
Post a Comment