Touching base with the essentials

At the start of a new year and a new presidency, it seems like a good time to touch base with the essentials.

According to our Lord Jesus Christ, among the 613 laws and precepts in the Hebrew Scriptures (including the Ten Commandments), these two are the greatest:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37);

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39).

This singular love of God requires us constantly to mind the way we want to make people, objects, and even ideas into gods. A good way to do this discernment work is to ask yourself, “To whom or to what do I turn first when I feel that something important or scary or exciting is happening?”

The love of neighbor as self can be interpreted by another teaching from Jesus, from the parable of The Good Samaritan. Remember that Samaritans and Jews were very hostile to each other, in the way that people from different nations, classes, races, religions, and even schools or sports teams can be. Jesus said loving neighbor as self is “showing mercy” to those who are suffering, wherever they come from and whoever they are (Luke 10:37).

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-28, 31).

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

And Jesus said, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).