31-Oct-21 (Mark 10:46-52)

Of all the things you can do, what do you think is the most important of all? [Wait for answers]
Those are some great answers. In our gospel story for today, Jesus is asked the same question. Here's what Jesus said: "First, you need to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." Now think about that. If you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength... What else is left?" Is there anything you're not loving God with?
No.
Then Jesus said, "The second thing is like that. You need to love your neighbor as you love yourself." That means even when your neighbor is being really rotten, you still want the best for them, just like you'd want people to want what's best for you, even when you're having a bad day... or a bad week... or a bad... well you get the idea. It means you pray for your neighbor and ask God to help them the same way the you want God to help you. It means you act toward your neighbor in the same ways you'd like people to act toward you.
Let's talk to God right now and let's talk to God about that.

Prayer

God, we thank you for sending us Jesus to show how to love you and also how to love other people. Help us to see you and other as Jesus saw, so we can love you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love others as we love ourselves.
We pray in Jesus' name. AMEN