Which is the greatest commandment of God?

Image via WikipediaThis is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary time and this week’s reading is as follows:
[Exodus 22: 20-26] [1 Thessalonians 1:5 -10] [Matthew 22:34-40]

This week’s reading is perhaps what we have been dealing with recently in this blog. Jesus replied to the Pharisees when they asked him “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” (Mt 22:36).

As we know by now, Jesus replied that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second to love our neighbour.

“On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.” (Mt 22:40). Why did Jesus said they these 2 are the most important?

Because there is no real love for God without the neighbour! As in Mt25:

40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."

So what better way to show (and proved) one’s love for God by loving one’s neighbour?

This is perhaps the biggest challenge that Jesus has thrown to us. To be His true disciple, we need to listen and act on His words.

Loving God is easy as He is perfect. Most of the time, we associate that with professing and singing praises and worship. While that is good but many do it as a form of lip service only. There is no real love from the heart. Did I love my neighbour like like myself? It will be much harder to love one's neighbour wholeheartedly. But it is possible if we are truly converted in our hearts.

Let’s pray that we will start loving each other like ourselves so that this world will become a better place for all of us.

"Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love." (1Jn 4:8)

Story from Aunty Helen......Christians are heartless

A friend I call Aunty Helen told me a story about her relative which I think will ring a bell to many of us.

Her relative lost a grandmother and they were mourning over their lost. Their hurt was magnified by the absence of 3 grandchildren. All 3 grandchildren are brought up by the grandmother since they are a baby (as their parents are working).

Now in their young adults years, they have become Christians and they cannot attend the wake which is conducted by another faith. They do not attend the funeral as well.

The family are very upset by this and wonder why Christianity taught the 3 grandchildren to do what they did.

This is also one of the reasons that I heard from many friends that is a stumbling block to them becoming Christians. Their aged parent (non-Christians) are afraid that there was be no one to send them off of their last journey.

How sad that can be. Anyone who bother to search the entire bible will never find any teaching to support such actions (of not attending wake / funerals conducted by another faith).

In fact, one of the 10 Commandments says to "Honor your father and mother" but it does not limit just to your parents but it simply means respect and honor all your elders.

So, can Christians attend the wake and funeral? Of Course they can!

The common reasons that Christians used is that they cannot hold joss sticks as they believe in 1 God and will not worship any idols etc....

They do not want to use the wisdom that God bless them with to know that holding joss sticks is not even close to worshiping anything....

On top of that, a wake and funeral is a simple act of respecting the dead person and sending them off on their last journey. It is a sign of respect and not worshiping any idols or another god.

Another point that Christians says is that it is more important to honor them when they are alive (which I whole heartedly agrees) and when one is dead, it's only the body left.

God, where did they get this idea from.....it is clear to all Christians that our body is the temple of God and must be treated with respect!

Therefore, any church that teaches this is flawed and the bible does not support that. Jesus does not support that teaching too.

So why follow?

** Need to clarify that if one is to hold joss stick and pray to another god then, it is not acceptable because we believe only in 1 God. But, we do respect all other religions although we do not participate in their worship **