*You can read the full text of the sermon here.

The general principles of how we live together–principles of peace, of justice, of love–come from God. The specific laws and rules about how to live according to Godly principles are human creations–our best efforts to discern what specific actions will lead us to live out the peace and justice and love of God more fully.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that sometimes we humans get it wrong. And sometimes we get it right for ourselves, but the most faithful action in one culture at one time may not be the most faithful action thousands of miles–or years–away.

And sometimes–Christ have mercy–those in power intentionally create rules to preserve their own status and power rather than rules that will be for the common good. 

And sometimes those of us following the rules don’t do it out of any sense of fulfilling God’s deep call on our lives. We just follow the rules out of habit. It’s the path of least resistance. This type of rote rule-following can keep us out of trouble, but it won’t lead us into the abundant life God desires for us and for our neighbors.

In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 22:34-46), we are told that the Pharisee asked a question to test Jesus; but it seems like a perfectly legitimate question: “Which commandment in the law is greatest?”  Because all of these commandments–all of these rules–can be confusing. Some can feel impossible and some can feel wrong and sometimes it seems that following one rule means breaking another. So which rule is the most important? What should we prioritize? I don’t know if that Pharisee was trying to trick Jesus or not. But either way, I’d like to know the answer to that question.

According to Jesus, the most important rule is: “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” And the second-most important rule is: “‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments,” says Jesus, “hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

All of the specific rules that we create for ourselves and our communities should be based on the foundational calling to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves. It’s not that Jesus is against rules, he just wants us to understand why we follow the rules we follow and check in once in a while to make sure those more specific rules still lead us to live out the most important commandments.

Most certainly Jesus is not against rules. Turn the other cheek. Give your cloak. Go the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you. These are rules. Love your enemies–that’s a rule. What Jesus opposes is the all-too-common practice of blindly following rules that are easy. And ignoring the ones that are hard or even just inconvenient.

We do not follow the rules of the world. We follow God’s law of peace, justice, and love.

May each step you take be a step toward justice, toward peace–a step taken in love, a step taken with grace. Amen.