Phillip Martin tells of a recent edition of the magazine, Intelligent Life, and an article in which six leaders in very intellectual fields were asked for their answers to this question, “What is the point?” Noted novelist and atheist Philip Pullman weighed in, as did a philosopher, a poet, a psychoanalyst and, lastly, a reporter. Their articulate responses were all interesting to read, very auspicious-sounding, full of wisdom and observation. Martin reports that the most compelling answer for him was a simple four-word response that came from the biographer and obituarist Ann Wroe. She was the one person among that list whose career essentially involves scouring the sum-total of people’s life stories and finding within them some pattern and meaning. Ms. Wroe responded, “The point is love.”
When the lawyer asked Jesus which commandment in the law was the greatest, Jesus got to the point by stating, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
The answer Jesus gave about loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind was an acceptable and expected answer to the lawyer’s question as Jesus cited what is known as the Shema which means “Hear.” Shema is the first word in the affirmation of Israel’s faithfulness to God that rabbis recommended all Jewish people recite twice each day. Found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Jesus cited the Shema as being the greatest commandment of the Law:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Jesus’ response to the lawyer’s question about the greatest commandment included not only the command to hear about God’s love. His response included a command to live God’s love as Jesus cited Leviticus 19:18:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
In citing the second commandment, Jesus was teaching that God’s love is the point of our living as we love our neighbors as ourselves.
Bishop Will Willimon tells of a church he served whose custom was to invite anyone moved by worship to come forward and join their congregation. So, at the conclusion of a service, Willimon extended this invitation. Everyone was surprised when an older man shuffled forward. He was someone who struggled with addictions and homelessness. In need of emergency shelter during the past winter, the man had spent some nights in the church. Unfortunately, when the church office was broken into on one of those nights, some members suspected he had something to do with it.
Now, here he was, coming forward at the invitation, offering himself for membership. It was an awkward moment for many, including Willimon. Before Willimon had time to say his name, the man started a tearful speech: “I want you all to know I’m changing my ways. The love of God has touched my cold heart. I’ve done some things for which I’m not proud. I’m ashamed of myself. But now I know Jesus has touched my heart, and I want you all to know.” Through tears, the man finished his heartfelt testimonial.
At the conclusion, Willimon welcomed the man to their fellowship, and said they would talk in the coming week about membership in the church. After offering the benediction, Willimon moved to the door to greet people. As people left, most could see Willimon was somewhat unsettled by the experience. Many of them looked concerned, as well. However, one woman approached Willimon with tears in her eyes. She said, “Today, I’ve seen the love of God. I had HEARD about the love of God, but this morning I got to SEE it.”
To put it another way, the point of the greatest commandment is to hear about God as you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And the point of the second is to live the love of God it as you love your neighbor as yourself.
Diana Register writes about what it is like to be the recipient of neighborly love following the death of her husband. She would search for hiding places where she could cry as she worked through her grief. She states, “the closet was a favorite. The shower. But when I was not home, it was parking lots that became an asphalt covered oasis and a safe-haven for grief.”
One day, as she was about to place her order in the Dutch Brothers coffee drive-thru, a wave of sadness hit her like a tidal wave in the middle of her conversation with a friend. She said she could barely catch her breath and the ugly crying started. The problem was, she was stuck in the coffee line. There was no way out of the line as she was literally blocked in, so unless she wanted to back into the SUV that was behind her she was about to be seen in the full reality of what she was experiencing.
When Diana pulled up to the window, the teen aged barista handed her an iced coffee that contained a pink straw and the words, “We love you” written around the straw on the cover of the cup. The girl did not know Diana’s pain or her story, but she knew that Dianna was hurting. She also knew the point of life is love.
In reflecting on what happened, Dianna said, “She wanted me to know I wasn’t alone. And that whatever trial I was going through, that there were people out there who cared about me. That regardless of not knowing all the details, they cared anyway.” Diana states that in loving her neighbor, the barista shared the love of God with her.
Loving God and loving neighbor. That is the point. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What Is The Point?
by Pastor Marc Brown
October 29, 2023
Accompanying Scriptures: Matthew 22:34-40
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for October 29, 2023
Scripture Lesson Matthew 22:34-40
The Good News “What Is The Point?”
Music “They’ll Know We Are Christians” by Peter Scholes
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “O Perfect Love” by John Scriveyner
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