Introduction
Today’s Gospel reading begins with the third question in this chapter designed to test Jesus. As we approach All Saint’s Day, what might be the trick questions for the saints (i.e. Christians) today? Jesus gives what may have been a surprising answer. He was by no means the first rabbi to draw out the importance of relatively obscure words from Leviticus 19.18 – but was he the first to bracket them with the first of the Ten Commandments?
Context
What might be the trick questions for our generation in an age of ‘fake news’?
We seem to face increasing polarisation in many societies; as seen, for example, in:
- the consequences of the ‘illegal’ referendum on independence for Catalonia;
- the rightward shift in recent Austrian elections;
- populist success in the recent Czech election;
- the outcome of earlier elections this year in France and Germany;
- not to mention the continuing fallout of the 2016 EU referendum in the UK.
The relevant Inspectorate reports that at least one police force says that people are not interested in modern slavery because ‘the public view is, they are not our girls’.
Reflection
- What might be the trick questions for this generation? And how might Jesus’ answer in today’s Gospel reading help us to answer them?
- We are challenged to love God and to love our neighbour in a context where some demonise foreigners. What is our response to those of our neighbours who hold racist or similar views? Or to those who say that our country is full and we should look after our own first? What Jesus said (e.g. Luke 10.29-37) and did (e.g. Matthew 15.21-26; Mark 7.24-30; John 4.1-42) in relation to foreigners challenges such views.
- Jesus asked who was neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers (Luke 10.36). Who is neighbour to the modern slaves in our midst? Some churches and church people are very committed to providing homes for refugees; but are we as concerned about slavery?
- In the New Testament, the word ‘saint’ simply means ‘Christian’, not those famous or worthy enough to be so labelled. So, saints are those who at least seek to love God and neighbour. Who have been the saints in our lives? How might we become better saints in this generation?
- Fake news seems to have become prevalent in some places. Can we love God and our neighbour while at the same time listening to or reading stories with little basis in reality? And how can we guard against being influenced by those actively seeking to mislead us?
- In the world of fake news, one is surely to ask for evidence and sources whenever we can. And if we love our neighbour, that surely means at least that we need to be sufficient respectful to listen to them carefully. It is more thing to challenge false understandings but quite another to denigrate the person who holds them.
Prayer
In your intercessions remember that 31 October is being marked across the world as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation – it was on 31 October 1517 that Martin Luther wrote to his bishop protesting the sale of indulgences and enclosing his 95 theses. In the Calendar of the Church of England, Martin Luther is remembered on 31 October.
Particularly if your church does not celebrate All Saints Day on Wednesday (1 Nov), remember all the saints today, including those who have influenced each of the faith journeys of the members of the congregation.
Pray for those who feel themselves to be without neighbours, such as refugees and modern slaves.
A prayer with which to end a sermon or to precede the final blessing
Lord our God,
give us grace both to hear and to act on
the great commandments of your kingdom,
that we may love you with all our heart,
and love our neighbour as ourselves –
today, tomorrow and always.
Amen.
Questions
- What might be the trick questions for this generation?
- How might Jesus’ answer in today’s gospel help us to answer them?
- What are the questions we should be asking in this generation?
Action
- What new action might you take now to comply with Jesus’ injunction to love your neighbour.
- What might you do from now on to reduce your exposure to fake news?
Young people
- Can you love God or your neighbours on social media?
- What might you need to do differently to love God and neighbour better on social media.
Dudley Coates is a Local Preacher in the Yeovil and Blackmore Vale Methodist Circuit and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference.
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