Friendship
This week Jesus tells us to lay down our lives for our friends. My offering on this lesson can be found by clicking
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Blessed are you if you leave me some valuable feedback.
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Blessed are you if you leave me some valuable feedback.
Elliott: I have been trying all week to find time to relisten to your sermon of last Sunday but to no avail. So, I'm not certain if I heard and understood you correctly. So bear with me.
ReplyDeleteI was initially intrigued by your distinction between friend and neighbour but as the sermon went on and afterwards I became less certain that I liked where this was tending. And then, I remembered a quote from one of my heroes, Thomas Merton,that put it all back in perspective for me: "Who is my neighbour? To whom am I bound? Who must I love? These are not intelliget questions, and they do not have clear answers. On the contrary, any attempt to answer them involves us in endless subtleties, and vagueness, and ultimate confusion. Love is not limited by classifications."
For me, that final statement says it all and is so powerful.
Loved the Buddhist quote that you used - good to reflect the truths found in other traditions.
Gerry
Oh I wholeheartedly agree, there are not limits to how and whom we love. Jesus told us to treat those who were "against" us as if they were tax collectors and prostitutes and look what he did with them - he ate and drank with them, he loved them. We are called to do the same alongside our friends; all the while encouraging, challenging and helping them to do the great commission of love.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gerry!