Reflection: Sunday 10th July and for the week ahead:

Scripture:

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’  He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ (Luke 10:25-28)

Reflection:

What the lawyer cites here, is the ‘Shema’, the Jewish Creed, so called because it starts: ‘Shema Yisrael….”, Hear, O Israel, in Hebrew. To this he adds words from the Book of Leviticus, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18).

These are fundamental truths to base our whole life on. As Jesus says, by following them we can live, first now, and then forever. Some people do get very excited about eternal life, a bit like the lawyer in this bit of Luke’s gospel. I feel that it is much more important that we live our best lives here and now, concentrating on that second saying – loving our neighbour and ourselves. Many people miss that last bit. “…as yourself” isn’t there just to look pretty. Jesus means it. God loves you. Take that in! Now see if you can find it in yourself to agree with him. And from that will flow a new appreciation for all around you, made in God’s image, just like you are.

Revd Ylva