This week's TFG reflections focused on the Gospel reading for today (Matthew 22: 34 - 39), where Jesus is asked which is the greatest of the commandments, and in reply refused to separate loving God from loving our neighbour. Elsewhere in the New Testament we are told rather bluntly that
those who do not love
a brother or sister whom they have seen,
cannot love God whom
they have not seen
(1 John 4:20)
We
live in a world where for many people religion seems to be the problem not the
answer, the cause not the solution, to the violence and injustice around us.
Throughout
history - and still today - women and men have killed, marginalised or
written-off other human beings in the
name of religion, and so it's hardly surprising that for many people in our
world loving God certainly doesn't appear to involve loving one's neighbour as
well ...
But Jesus' words remind us
very forcefully that it does !
So,
if what we believe about God is causing us to hurt or undermine other people or
the planet in any way, then maybe it is time for us to review what we believe.
After a thoughtful and interesting discussion we listened together to the song "Trellick Tower", which can be heard, alongside a brief commentary, here.
The question remains for us all, "What do I love when I love my God ?"
Peter King
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