Two Great Commandments

Proper 9    The Sunday closest to July 6

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

That's our Collect of the Day for Sunday, July 3: Proper 9.

Nearly thirty years ago, I was part of a group of six clergy associates in Pennsylvania. In the group were a United Methodist minister, two Lutheran pastors, a Roman Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and me, an Episcopalian. In a discussion one day, the Methodist said something about “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ that was Jesus’ commandment.” The rabbi corrected him, “That’s Leviticus.” The minister looked stunned. “It is?”

Jesus didn’t make up Bible verses. He was well at home in Scripture, which he quoted often in his teachings. When in the liturgy we say, “Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith, ‘Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,’” (Mark 12 and Matthew 22) we may think the two great commandments came from Jesus, but in both Gospel instances he was citing Scripture in response to a question from another person. My rabbi friend was right, the commandment to love your neighbor came from Leviticus 19:18. 

The commandment to love God came from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Jesus combined all commandments into those two. Love God. Love neighbor.

When Beverly McDaniel was Head of School at Holy Nativity, she constantly stressed the two great commandments with the students. To this day, every Sunday morning as we begin the eight o’clock Rite One liturgy my mind goes to the Wednesday morning chapel service years ago when Beverly asked in kindergarten chapel, “Children, what are the two great commandments Jesus gave us, that are so important here in our school?” Tiny hands shot up. Beverly pointed to one.

“NO BITING.”

Hoping for a better answer, she pointed to another.

“DON’T THROW SAND.”

Eight o’clock can be very early for the Celebrant. Sometimes in opening the liturgy, I have to really concentrate to make sure that’s not what I say when I give the Summary of the Law.

TW+