The Greatest Commandment

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Gathering Song  #701

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.

Call to Worship

Leader: We will give thanks to you, O LORD, with our whole heart; we will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

All: We will be glad and exult in you;

we will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

—from , NRSV

Leader: O magnify the LORD with me.

All: Let us exalt God’s name together!

—from , NRSV

Opening Prayer

Hymn #175: Seek Ye First

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

with all your heart.

Love the Lord your God

with all your soul.

Love the Lord your God

with all your mind.

Love the Lord your God

with all that you are.

and its righteousness,

And all these things shall be added unto you.

Allelu, alleluia!

Ask, and it shall be given unto you;

seek, and you shall find.

Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.

Allelu, alleluia!

You shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word.

That proceeds from the mouth of God.

Allelu, alleluia!

Confession

Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God.

90

Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

—based on

Declaration of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri (Glory to God)

Glory be to the Fatherand to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.As it was in the beginning,it is now and ever shall be,world without end.Amen, amen.

Musical Meditation: Tom Smart

Witnessing God’s Work: Welcome Pastor Hosea Nelson Kyasooka

Prayer for Illumination (understanding)

Exodus 20:1–21 ESV

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Mark 12:28–31 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark

Message: The Greatest Commandment

Next week, we’ll begin working our way through the ten commandments. Surprise - it will only be a 6 week series. Instead of breaking it up into one week per commandment, we’ll be breaking it into two three week sections. Three weeks on loving God and three weeks on loving neighbor. This is a natural break in the flow of the commandments. The first four are on how we nurture our relationship with God and the last six are about living out our relationship with God in the context of human relationships. When it comes down to it, the decalogue - fancy word for the ten commandments - is all about relationship.

Trouble in the text

The commandments are often misused or are cherry picked out of context. They aren’t about a list of rules that should or shouldn’t be left in front of a courthouse. They aren’t some magic guide to the perfect life. They aren’t a plan to earn your way into heaven.

Trouble in the world

Frankly, I don’t care if they are carved on a big stone in front of any building. For many, if not most, people, they have come to be little more than a symbol of the “us vs them” culture wars. They are right up there with plain red starbucks cups and “happy holidays”.

In our passage from Mark, Jesus is being texted by some tricky folks who have been trying to use the law of the Hebrew Bible to earn their salvation. So they ask Jesus, out of all these, which is the most important.

And Jesus points them back to the foundation of all the commandments - something called the Shema.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The Shema is referred to in the preamble to the commandments. “I am the Lord your God.” God is saying, “remember this covenant we made in which everything that matters is our relationship - my love for you and your love for me. Here’s some framework for what that looks like.”

The commandments aren’t the magic bullet for a peaceful society. They are a description of what living into the covenant looks like.

Grace in the text

They aren’t about guilt or pride - they are about covenant.

Loving God is hard enough. Loving neighbor is even harder. But that’s what this all boils down to.

Hebrew - the language in which the commandments were written, as well as the scripture Jesus is quoting in our passage from Mark, is a language of verbs, not nouns. Many of the nouns in Hebrew are derived from verbs. A change to a verb in a sentence changes the entire meaning significantly. There are entire verb tenses used to change the intensity of the verb’s meaning.

Scriptural love - the kind we read about in this “love the Lord your God” - is not about a feeling, it’s about a doing. And it’s not about a list-following doing. It’s about a living, growing, changing, creative, paying attention to the situation around you doing. It’s a way of life.

“Do not murder” sounds simple, but it’s pretty complicated. How much intent has to be involved for it to be considered murder vs. an accident? Do animals count or just people? What about self-defense? What about capitol punishment?

We have to think about these things in the light of the covenant that we’ve been given. Covenant is active, it’s not something we agree to, then sit back and forget about.

Covenant is active, it’s not something we agree to, then sit back and forget about.

Trouble in the world

I love how Jesus boils down God’s law to the same two main pieces we see in the commandments - love God, love each other. Nadia Boltz Weber says that the commandments are about love for neighbor. Something to the effect of, "God loves the rest of humanity so much that God commands you and me not to harm the rest of humanity."

But we stink at living out God’s love. It’s not because we don’t want to. I don’t think I’ve met a real Christian before who would say they don’t want to live out God’s love. It’s just that loving our neighbors is complicated.

Hebrew - the language in which the commandments were written, as well as the scripture Jesus is quoting in our passage from Mark, is a language of verbs, not nouns. The nouns are based off of verbs.

Even if you look at one of the simplest love your neighbor commandments - do not murder - that gets complicated. How much intent or negligence is necessary to qualify it as murder? What about animals? What about capital punishment? What about self defense? Even with these guidelines, it’s really messy and hard to sort through.

Scriptural love is not about a feeling, it’s about a doing.

One of the very most troubling “how do we love our neighbors” situations for me right now is what is happening at the southern border of the United States right now. It’s troubling for me because I do believe strongly in welcoming the stranger as scripture tells us. It troubles me because I have ancestors who came here seeking asylum from famine in Ireland and living family who came to escape genocide in Poland. Our country is founded on the idea of welcoming refugees.

Covenant is active, it’s not something we agree to, then sit back and forget about.

It troubles me because the system is nearly impossible to navigate. We have alot of systems like that in our country - systems we set up and say they will help the downtrodden, but really they are complicated mazes that nobody can figure out.

We cannot say that we love our neighbors and refuse refugees and asylum seekers a safe haven.

It troubles me because nobody seems to have a good, just, compassionate, effective solution. Scripture clearly and frequently tells us that we are called to love all people and welcome the stranger and refugee and show hospitality to all. But it doesn’t tell us what that looks like in today’s context.

It troubles me because I live all the way up here in Pennsylvania where we have very little first hand interaction with the situation all the way down by Mexico. I have some friends who have immigrated here from the Middle East, from South American, Europe, Central America, and I can and do talk to them about their experiences, but that is still a second or third hand encounter at best.

Side bar - dwell a bit in the fact that it’s far easier to immigrate here from stable, middle class European places than from anywhere in the developing world. I can’t be the only one who is disturbed by that.

So what can someone who is troubled by this and interested in finding just, compassionate, scriptural solutions to this crisis we are seeing develop do from here in Pennsylvania?

You see, we cannot say that we love our neighbors and refuse refugees and asylum seekers a safe haven.

We cannot say we love our neighbors and look down on someone else based on their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, neighborhood, or financial status.

Well, we can leave Pennsylvania, for starters.

I have yet to hear an argument from scripture about why we should cut numbers of refugees coming here to flee war and starvation and other violence and poverty. But I also have yet to hear a good, just, timely solution to the problem that has been presented to us at our country’s southern border.

We cannot say we love our neighbors and continue to hoard our money and resources, holding onto it for ourselves.

There are several Presbyterian peacemaking trips coming up and as of right now, two of them will be attended by people from Emsworth and St. Andrew’s. In November, John Scanlon (and anyone else who is interested - see me for application details) will be heading to Puerto Rico. This is a great loving neighbor trip for those who are not ready to apply for a passport and leave the US. Yes. . . Puerto Rico is part of the United States. You will not have to go through customs or anything like that. The purpose of the trip is to see the church’s role in disaster relief and justice work after the devastating hurricanes there recently. Two years ago, we loved our neighbors there by collecting money to support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance there. Now, we have a chance to go and see first hand what that support helped do.

We cannot say we love God and our neighbors and continue to ravage God’s precious creation, killing off entire species of animals through loss of habitat, burning off all the natural resources we’ve been given, and polluting the water and air with our trash and chemical leftovers.

We cannot say we love God and sit, half asleep and bored, through church on Sunday morning and then go on with the rest of the week hardly giving God a second thought.

For those who are ready to get another stamp (or a first stamp) in your passport in February and get some first hand understanding about what is happening at our southern border and why people are immigrating - or trying to immigrate - from South and Central America, join me in February going to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. I was in Guatemala 14 years ago and I’m excited to go back. It’s a place that gets into your soul. We’ll be meeting with agencies that are working to better peoples’ lives in those places and who are helping people immigrate to the US to start a new life for their families in a safer place. We’ll be getting to know our neighbors. And we’ll come home with some new and fresh insight into solutions for loving neighbors right here at home.

Grace in the world

Because, here is the thing - If we are going to really talk about the things that are happening in the world, we have to see them. We have to go and see them with our own eyes, hear them with our own ears, worship in another language, dance the folk dances of another culture, cry with those who have lost a child, laugh with new friends, stand with those who seek justice, feel the wind of a faraway place on our face, walk on dirt of a color we’ve never seen before.

This week at Crestfield, I had the privilege of serving as the camp chaplain for the week. This is my fourth year doing this and I simply cannot speak highly enough of this camp.

We can’t assume that the things we read or watch on the news are giving us a full or fair picture of the world. There is alot of talk out there that isn’t backed up by any first hand experience. There are many empty, hurtful words that get released into the wild without any actual knowledge attached to them.

To love your neighbor, you have to know your neighbor. To know your neighbor, you have to leave your comfort zone sometimes.

The application deadline for Puerto Rico is next Thursday, August 1. The deadline for applications for Central America is October 1. I can help you apply for the trip. If that means I sit at my computer and type in the answers on the form while you dictate them to me, I’m in. Let’s do it. And if cost is a concern, talk to me. There are ways to raise support and if enough of us are going, we can do some group fundraisers to help as well.

These kids - the campers, the counselors, the program staff - they loved each other.

If you are medically unable to go or don’t have time off from work you can use, talk to me about how you can be a prayer partner, blog updater, financial supporter, or more. And when our folks get back from these trips, let’s all gather together like we did after Rwanda to hear the stories they bring back from our neighbors so that we can learn to be more and more loving neighbors all the time.

Each year, there is a moment that reminds me of how powerful that place is. It really is one of the thin places in the world where heaven touches Earth a little bit.

Friends, let’s show our love for God by loving our neighbors.

Homework: Prayer Prompt

Pray about your involvement in one of these trips. Ask God if you are meant to be on one of them. If you’re unable for some reason, how can you support the team logistically from home, financially, through prayer? What can we as a congregation do to support these sorts of loving neighbor trips and remain involved?

God, help us to see where we are lazy in loving you. Help us to see our neighbors as you see them. Give us loving and creative hearts to seek you fully and love those around us regardless of who they are. Move in the hearts of those who are meant to go to Puerto Rico in November or to Central America in February. Amen.

Hymn #62: Love the Lord Your God

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart.

Love the Lord your God

with all your soul.

Love the Lord your God

with all your mind.

Love the Lord your God

Apostle’s Creed

with all that you are.

Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People

After each petition, the pastor will say, “Lord, in your mercy,” and the people respond, “Hear our prayer.”

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us. Lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Sharing our tithes and offerings

Doxology (Song of Thanksgiving)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host.Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.Amen

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Hymn #450: Be Thou My Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

thou my best though, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me Lord;

thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower,

raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;

thou mine inheritance, now and always;

thou and thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’ sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Charge and Blessing

May the peace of our Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you.May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

Amen