This week's passage suits my sensibilities perfectly. A scribe, an educated religious professional, enters the escalating debate between Jesus and the other clerics of his day by asking: "So, exactly which commandment is the most important?" He wants to boil it down to the basics, to keep the main thing the main thing. I love that about him. He wants to major in the majors.

 

Jesus gives him a clear answer, an irreducible Great Commandment which sounds easy enough: love God, neighbor and self. To modern listeners, it's a theological back-to-basics that would seem to offer relief from all the quibbling among religious people evident in incomprehensible, intimidating theological tomes; from the competitiveness of denominations, each of which assumes a better understanding of the truth of God; and from the zeal of one kind or another that so often mars religious commitment. 

As someone said, "Deliver me from a Calvinist convinced he is doing the will of God."

 

So why is it so hard? "Love God and love neighbor. On these two commandments rest everything else." We'll explore it in depth this weekend in what promises to be extraordinarily rich worship. We'll hear an inspiring message from Erin Barksdale, the dynamic new principal at Highland Renaissance Academy; bless backpacks to be shared with children across our city, state and world; and celebrate the beginning of a new school year. 

It will be challenging, inspiring, and hopeful.  Come, and bring a friend.