The Greatest Commandment is....

17 hours ago

2 min read

Dear All Saints and St Marys

I often sit and rewrite my To Do List each morning. I take some satisfaction in being able to cross off the things done, and to then rewrite the list afresh with what I still need to do. It makes my life feel, at least a little bit, more ordered. When I write the new list, it tends to be with the most important, most urgent tasks at the top, or at least with an * asterix next to the item.

"Which is the greatest commandment?" asks a legal expert and pharisee in Matthew's gospel this week. Another trick question perhaps, or maybe a genuine desire to prioritise? My suspicion is it might be the former given that ever-increasing traps that are being set in front of Jesus in order to have him arrested.

When the Pharisee was asking this, I wonder if their first thought was to the 10 commandments that were handed to Moses. But the question and the answer Jesus gives could equally apply to any of the laws and religious customs that were required at the time, and indeed for us today. At the heart of this is that cry "What is my priority? "What's the most important thing for me today?"

Jesus answer - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind" and "Love your neighbour as yourself" - In many ways these form the primary principals that Jesus gives to help us govern our lives and our decision making. It's a much simpler conduit through which to check all things and yet it has a much sharper lens and effective depth than perhaps a 100 page rule book. It requires both self reflection and prayerful conversation to each individual decision over how we spend our time, energy and money. I doubt it was the answer that the Pharisee wanted. I suspect it was however the one that was needed. I certainly do.

Please note that the clocks go backwards this weekend!

This Sunday 25^th October our worship at All Saints and St Marys is as follows:

8:00am	Holy Communion	All Saints
10:00am	Holy Communion	St Marys
10:30am	Cafe Church	All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wed 28th	9:00am	Celtic Morning Prayer	All Saints
Thu 29th	10:00am	Holy Communion	St Marys
	1:00-4:00pm	Crafternoons	St Marys
	7:00pm	Hallowe'en Talk	All Saints
Fri 30th	11:00am	Living After Loss	St Marys
Sat 31st	12:00noon	Saturday Lunches	St Marys
	12:00-3:00pm	Pumpkin Craft and Games	All Saints
	1:00-4:00pm	Crafternoons	St Marys
Sun 1st Nov	10:00am	Creative Church	St Marys
	10:30am	Patronal Festival Holy Communion (with Junior Church)	All Saints
	6:30pm	Choral Evensong	St Marys