“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”  Confucius (Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher.)

“When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him 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 with 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 two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40

When was the last time you sat down in desperation or frustration and said something like “Why is life so complicated?” If you are like me, it probably was not that long ago. Life seems to go faster and faster the older we get, and many times it appears to get more and more complicated. Is it possible that Confucius was right – that life is simple, but we make it complicated?

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were not happy with the teachings of Jesus.  They were steeped in the laws of Moses, and as such were religious “experts” in enforcing and following the laws of faith and life. For example, the Sabbath rules were established to give the people parameters for what they could and could not do that might be considered work on the day of the Sabbath.  Here are just a few of the Prohibited Sabbath activities:

Writing two or more letters
Erasing two or more letters
Building
Demolishing
Extinguishing a fire
Kindling a fire
Putting the finishing touch on an object

So, when the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask him “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?”, Jesus does what he usually does – he tries to simplify his teaching. But, his answer is brilliant. He states what today we call the “Shema”, or one of the central teachings spoken still in Sabbath worship for Jews:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one ( the Lord alone).  And you shall love the Lord, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5

My friends, we need not complicate our faith through numerous “dos” and “don’ts”.  Jesus reminds us that faith begins with “Loving the Lord, and Loving your neighbor as yourself”.  In other words, faith begins with love.  When we start each day reminding ourselves that G-d loves us beyond all understanding, and then remember that we are to love all people with the love that G-d has for us, then the rest of the day and the rest of our actions will come out of that love. Yes, everyday life is complicated, but our faith need not be complicated with “right” doing or “right” understanding. We start from love, and allow that verb, that action “to love” lead us in all our actions, decisions, and our relationships.

Pastor Dave 

“The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word – extra.” (Anonymous)

“On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance,they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

“Taken together, these details orient us to the possibility that Jesus instructs his followers — then and now — that faith is not a matter of believing only, but also of seeing. All the lepers were healed; one, however, saw, noticed, let what happened sink in…and it made all the difference.
    *Because he sees what has happened, the leper recognizes Jesus, his reign and his power. *Because he sees what has happened, the leper has something for which to be thankful, praising God with a loud voice. *Because he sees what has happened, the leper changes direction, veering from his course toward a priest to first return to Jesus.

In this light, this story serves as an invitation to believers — then and now — to recognize that what we see makes all the difference. In the face of adversity, do we see danger or opportunity? In the face of human need, do we see demand or gift? In the face of the stranger, do we see potential enemy or friend?” (David Lose, The Working Preacher website, October 10, 2010)

Apparently nine lepers did not see enough to move them beyond the miracle – they couldn’t see the authority of G-d’s healing presence, the grace of G-d found in the person of Jesus Christ. But one leper shakes himself free from the joy of being “made clean” to realize that his view of reality had changed.  The one who was formerly a leper recognizes through his own healing that he was a walking witness to the reality of G-d’s grace. And through the healing he sees, recognizes and appreciates what G-d did – and does what we all should do – fall at the feet of Jesus and give thanks and praise. 

We all have people who touch us, teach us, who are present with us each day.  When was the last time that we stopped, reversed our steps and told them what a blessing they are? When was the last time we thanked G-d for them and their presence in our lives? G-d’s presence should not only be seen in the miracles of life – but also needs to be seen in the everyday relationships including those we take for granted, and those that we do not even think of. This story reminds us that whether we realize it in the midst of our trials and tribulations, or recognize it many years after the fact, our lives are in G-d’s hands. So we should offer up prayer, praise and thanksgiving as the proper response to G-d’s grace – grace that sometimes smacks us over the head, and often goes without notice.

Pastor Dave