20 February 2016 - inside out

[ Today's Readings ]

And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;

What should be peculiar about us?

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (see John 13:35)

It isn't just love for those who love us. It isn't just greeting those who greet us. It is in loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors that we stand out. Our love isn't mercenary love. It does not demand love in return. Rather, it is like the love of Jesus who died for us while we were still enemies (see Romans 5:8).

But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

The commandments are designed to point us in this direction. But commandments themselves are limited. They are external impositions with external consequences. For something to truly be love, it must come from the freedom of a changed heart. If it does not, there is still something mercenary about it. It is still in order to gain this blessing or to avoid that punishment.

I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.

The commandments are the lines in the coloring book of life that help us to know where to color. They show us when we are in or out of bounds. But love must well up from within us. 

Jesus, give us new hearts so that we can love sincerely and without counting the cost.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (see First Timothy 1:5).

Jesus without your Holy Spirit we fall back on the commandments as our motivation rather than merely as guidance. Send your Spirit into our hearts to transform us and make us children of our Father in heaven. This is the blessing which you offer us today. You offer the transformation which will enable us to love even our enemies. You empower us to offer our talents in the service of all, whatever their disposition may be.

for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.