Because He First Loved Us...

Okay, I'm still a little AWOL with classes and grading, but I want to keep the conversation going. To do that, I'm going to ask that we reflect on scripture for a day, and then really begin our conversation about justice. The scripture I'm looking at come from 1 John 4:19-21:

We love because he first loved us. Those who say, 'I love God', and then hate their brothers and sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.

1 John is referring to the double commandment from Mark 12:

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, '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 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." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,' — this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."-- Mark 12: 28-34

So let's take a day and pray on that -- what does God have to say to us through these passages about how we are to relate to one another in our lives? How does God's love for us influence our love of others? Reflecting on the different institutions we participate in (our work, school, church, social groups, etc.), where does God bring our minds when we ask how we do or no not love our neighbor as ourself? What does it mean to love our brothers and sisters?

Here's how we do it:

1. Get your watch so you know when your ten minutes are up (it's your security blanket!).
2. Read back over these two passages.
3. Read them again. Reading outloud is always nice if you're in a private place.
   
4. What word or image (maybe a memory?) comes to mind when reading back over the passage? For me, it's how my grandpa used to let people come and glean from his farm.
   
5. Read the passages a third time.
6. Ask, in your life today (November 28, 2005) what would God have you take from these passages? What is God's message for you in your life? Ask God that question, and let your mind reflect back on the scripture. Your mind will go in a particular direction, and just let it. If you start thinking about emails or your Christmas list, no worries, just ask God again to speak to you through the Word, and you're back on track. (I always keep a pad and pen by me when I do this b/c my mind wanders like crazy! I just write the thoughts down and get back on track).
7. When your time is up, thank God for sharing with you.
   

We'll talk about what that means for how we organize just social structures tomorrow.

Love you guys,

Becky