Mark 12:28-34
Two commandments: love God and neighbor
12:28 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?"
12:29 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
12:30 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.'
12:31 The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
12:32 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';
12:33 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."
12:34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Early in the 2000s, author James Collins hit it big with a book about why some companies “make the leap” to the next level of size and success, while others don’t. His book covered principles and observations that might help not just organizations, but even individuals how to get from “good to great,” which was also the title of the book. Collins was heralded by many, as his book became a tremendous best-seller, but over the years, he was also criticized as pointing out principles that were “too simple” or “mere common sense.” Isn’t it interesting that such elementary principles were being deemed as “not significant” causes by these critics as to result in corporate “greatness”? It reminds me of the “miracle drug,” Acetylsalicylic Acid—aspirin. It is so simple, yet it has saved many a life. Surely we can make a better drug than this “natural” anti-inflammatory? We have, of course, but aspirin is still amazing, and even with its potential negative side effects, it IS a miracle drug. So it is with some of the less-than-rocket science ideas Collins observed as being integral to successful companies. And, as we shall explore, a “good Christian” is much more like aspirin than Ozempic or some exotic painkiller.
This sermon ins not about Collins’ work, but more about that of Jesus Christ! Since it’s the Sunday when my congregation is celebrating All Saints, we will also shine a spotlight on the extraordinary lives that sought to make US “great,” or at least better than we were. Who would argue with progressing from “good” to “great”?
Therein lies our first key: how do we interpret these two terms? In the corporate world of Mr. Collins, a “good” company is one that is “okay,” while a “great” company is one that excels and tends to dominate in its field of endeavor. However, this idea doesn’t translate well to individuals without some reinterpretation. After all, to call someone a “good person” is quite a compliment, in almost all cases. A “great” person, however, depending on how we understand that adjective, may be bad OR good. If by “great” we mean that the individual is “large,” we may be suggesting that they are TOO large, or “outsized.” “Great” may also be used satirically, suggesting that their ego is what is outsized, as in “They THINK they are great.” From a Christian perspective, a person may be both “good” AND “great,” if they are a serious disciple of Jesus Christ AND a solid leader, or at least a person who is living out their potential and using their spiritual gifts to the benefit of the larger community. In an earlier sermon, we looked at Jesus’ teaching about how the one who wants to be “great” must be the “servant of all.” This principle generally runs counter to what Collins identifies in “successful” companies. And while Collins decries “greed” as a positive factor in such growth, it is clear that it is often a motivator in the business world. “Good” people, in Jesus’ view, are those who DO serve others, and live for the good of all. THIS is what makes them great, not necessarily any extraordinary or laudable accomplishments. Humility, in the Christian realm, is a valued quality, even over success. So, what DOES it mean to be “great” in the kingdom of God?
Here's where All Saints comes in. Who are the saints in YOUR life? I would define them as the people who have (past tense) or do (present) influence you to become the person God intends for you to be. These are the people who nurture you, support you, encourage you, pray for you, model faith for you, and do so with little regard for what they “get” out of the relationship, other than a decent level of mutual respect. “Saints” is what the Apostle Paul used as a label for any and all persons who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ; it was a term of endearment, not an accolade. So, in the spirit of Paul, who are YOUR saints? On this important weekend of Christian heritage, take time to ponder and make a list of the people who have been YOUR saints. Obviously, many of them may have gone on to glory, and this is why we historically remember them during our All Saints celebrations, often by reading their names and ringing a bell to signify their significance. It matters that they lived. At least it matters to us and to God! Not wanting to discount that you may have some LIVING saints, this is especially a time to think about those who have gone on.
Personally, my list is very long. It includes my two grandmothers, one who had a very simple faith, but used to share it with me, and the other who loved God through her music, having played piano and organ in several churches. My maternal grandmother was thrilled that my brother and I became pastors, and it was the Eastern Star lodge of hers that gave both of us ESTARL grants to help us afford our seminary education. I know both of them prayed for us, too, which meant a lot. I was the first of the grandchildren to go away to college, and my maternal grandmother used to send me letters of encouragement, usually with a few bucks for the college vending machines tucked inside. My in-laws were certainly powerful spiritual influences on my life, not to mention that they brought Dara into the world (she tops the list of my living saints!). My in-laws modeled a practical, yet wondrous Christian faith for many, many of my peers by opening their home for a young adult fellowship that met on Monday nights. There we studied the Bible, shared weekly faith experiences, and spent serious “seasons” of prayer to end each evening. My father-in-law would “moderate” our discussion, making sure to keep us focused on Christ and providing “clues” as to where we might find help in the scriptures, but he wisely left us young adults have our own synergy, and supported the “natural” leaders who rose up from within the group. (As I write this, behind me on the wall is an oil painting of Jesus that was given to my in-laws by a young man who stayed with them for a time while attending a local college and working a job in town. One of his friends painted it and gave it to him, and he gave it to the Apel family. It adorned the mantle of their wonderful fireplace that warmed the souls of us gathered on cold Mondays, and countless times during our evening-ending prayers, I found myself gazing at it like it was an icon. I “inherited” it when my in-laws sold their house and became “full-timers” in their motorhome in retirement. If I can find my photo of it, I’ll attach it below…)
You have your saints. Remember them this weekend, and be thankful. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for each of them. And remember why they are saints. For the most part, it is because they were a faith and life influence on us for the good. However, today’s lectionary passage holds the key as to what MADE them saints, and it truly holds the key for ANY of us who want to follow James Collins’ example of “Good to Great” in the kingdom of God. And it takes us back to that little acronym many of us discovered early in life: KISS, which = “Keep it simple, stupid!” Or, to be a bit more philosophical, as someone said years ago, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!” In this text, Jesus does BOTH!
Jesus boils the law and the prophets and our roadmap for worship, mission, and Christian discipleship down to two commandments…TWO COMMANDMENTS:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Loving God with your heart IS worship. Loving God with your soul is salvation. Loving God with your mind is the fuel of discipleship, wisdom and growth. Loving God with all of your strength is the “heavy lifting” of mission and ministry, as after all, these things require us to do work to accomplish them.
AND loving your neighbor as yourself gives us our mission field. We know how, when asked, “Who is my neighbor?” by a religious leader, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, wherein a “hated Samaritan” helps a Jew who has been beaten and robbed. He does so with much risk, generosity, and no motive other than to be a neighbor to the man. He doesn’t do a “needs test” on him, checks his religious, national, or ethnic pedigree, nor does he even survey the man’s sexuality. He just comes to his aid, at great expense of time and money, to himself.
Think of your saints, again. While they may not have totally embraced all of the values in the “Love God; love neighbor” paradigm, they at least mastered a few of them and were “going on to perfection” (as Mr. Wesley would say) regarding the rest of them, I’m sure. THIS is why we sought to learn from them and emulate them while they were alive, and now, often with warmth and tears, remember them that they’re gone. And if you are fortunate enough to still have a few of them around, take time to thank them personally for their “sainthood,” and their rich contribution to your life!
I suppose Mr. Wesley got something right with his “going on to perfection” syntax. After all, when the scribe “answers wisely” in today’s text, Jesus tells him he is “not far from the kingdom of God,” which sounds like he’s on a journey to “perfection,” himself. Aren’t we all? And if you were able to quiz any of the saints of your life, I’m sure that in their humility, they would clearly state that their striving toward God’s standard of “perfection” was never ending, as well, despite how “perfectly” we saw them. And, when God welcomed them home, they finished the trip from “good to great,” landing lovingly in the arms of the Almighty.
For those of us who remain, and who continue to be inspired by the heritage of our saints, in the words of our former Bishop, Thomas Bickerton: “The journey continues…” Shalom, Beloved!
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