15th Sun. OT-C’16-C
“Love God Completely”
Fr. Jeff Nicolas
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Great question! Simple answer: Love God Completely. But what does THIS look like?
I think St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, gives us an insightful way to grasp Jesus’ answer today. You see, Jesus was very intentional in his selection of characters for his story…
The Priest that walks on by is more than just a Priest; he’s any worshipper of God. Here’s what St. Paul says, “If I speak in human and angelic tongues [an act of worship] but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” In other words, if I am just a worshipper of God who “walks on by” an opportunity to love another through self-sacrifice, then I do not inherit eternal life.
The Levite that walks on by is more than just a Levite; she’s anyone who is studied up and knowledgeable on God. Here’s what St. Paul says, “If I have the gift of prophesy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, but do not have love, I am nothing.” In other words, if I am just a scholar on the subject of God who “walks on by” an opportunity to love another through self-sacrifice, then I do not inherit eternal life.
St. Paul, I believe, then goes on to point out that even the Good Samaritan, if his motives are wrong will lose out… “if I give away everything I own, and I hand my body over SO THAT I MAY BOAST, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” No eternal life is inherited if I reach out to help another just so I will look good.
So what does loving God completely look like? St. Paul clearly states that loving God completely looks like self-less action for another. This Love is the effort of patience, kindness, appreciation, humility, politeness, truth-telling, other-serving, and constancy. This is the enduring, believing, hopeful, unfailing disciple of Jesus Christ who will inherit eternal life. For you see, we do not fall into loving God completely; we die-to-self into loving God completely.
Today’s Letter to the Colossians assures us that “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,” yet scripture offers no physical description of Jesus. The image we are given is that of his actions alone… the greatest action being that of his dying to self so we could be lifted from the ditch and made whole. Deuteronomy assures us that loving God completely is not beyond our reach. It is as close as your next act of mercy.
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