Two commandments

7 February 2020

Only two Commandments?  That’s easy, right?

During Old Testament times, there were hundreds of laws for the Jewish people to follow.  When Jesus came on the scene in the first century, he made it easy for us: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ he taught, and ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Do these, he said, and you fulfil the law. These two commands are easy to remember, but are they really that easy to do?

We live in a world where real social networks are shrinking.  Research shows what our lived experience already tells us: people don’t know their neighbours like they used to, and they have fewer friends they can call on when they are in need.

Against this cultural trend to withdraw, the love we have for God compels us to connect with our neighbours, make new friends, and love them with the same love that God has for us. The Gospel propels us forward into our communities, demonstrating what the Kingdom of God is like.

It’s not easy to go against the cultural tide of withdrawing, but we’ve got this; God is with us!

Brendan