God's gift helps us know when we've crossed the line

“They [Pharisees] asked [Jesus] a question to test him, ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

More and more, we find ourselves discussing law and order. What it constitutes. How to enforce it. And, how to interpret it.

When this lawyer, representing religious authorities of the Pharisaic tradition, asked his question about the law, it was meant to trap Jesus not deepen his understanding. Yes, when human beings discuss the law, it usually has to do with determining who broke the law and how to punish the perpetrator. But, like this lawyer, we also tend to rank which laws matter most. Human beings also are great at finding loop-holes to get around the ones they disagree.

God first offered laws to God’s people as they struggled to make their way through the wilderness after being saved from slavery in Egypt.

If you have ever taken a family road trip, you know it doesn’t take long before family members start getting on each others’ nerves. The complaining, “I’m thirsty! I’m hungry! How much farther?” The poking or kicking the seat, the demands for MY turn to pick the music or sit in the front seat”.

God took Moses off on a mountain to figure out how to manage these many families. Help them live as a community. Not just survive, but become a blessing to each other and make it to the new life God had in store for them. No longer oppressed, but free.

So, God gave them the 10 Commandments. The first 3-4, Jesus summarized for the lawyer. They shape our relationship with God. When we learn to fully trust and love God, the next 6-7 (depending upon how your tradition numbers them) fall into place. Having a bold, confident trust in God’s grace, leads you to want to care for and love your neighbor.

But, when you are thirsty, hungry, stressed out by work, a pandemic, the economy, and grieving the loss of all the things this time in the wilderness has taken from us, our best selves are not showing. And, our communities are suffering because of it, as it did for the Ancient Israelites.

So, God gives us a gift to help us know when we have crossed over into behavior that will not only harm ourselves, but harm our neighbor. A set of boundaries, we are invited to live within, until we learn to fully trust God is with us. Laws, not meant as a test, but a set of warning buoys. That beyond them, we might do okay for awhile, but the longer we swim where sharks lurk or a riptide can develop, all our relationships and health are at risk. Our life with God, neighbor, and ourselves.

I pray we will turn back to this way of life God has given us, and Jesus directs us, so all might live.

The Rev. Lori C. Morton can be reached at First Lutheran Church, Sandpoint.