Sermons from St. James Anglican Church Ed McNeill

We live in the post-Incarnation, post-resurrection, post-ascension era of the Holy Spirit. Most of our experience of God’s presence is through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit both within us as a temple of the Holy Spirit and within the Body of Christ. But this is not the only way God has revealed himself to His people.

This week Jesus goes into greater detail to contrast the external interpretation of the rabbinic tradition with His correct interpretation of the Law. Showing us once again that following Jesus demands a choice on our part, much like the choice we find in the reading from Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Below are portions of our readings this week, and they contrast trying to appease God or even be with God for our purposes, from actually keeping His commandments and understanding the mind of God. God’s will and purpose is not always what we expect, but is also not inaccessible. It is both proclaimed in the scriptures, and implanted in our minds and hearts by the abiding Spirit of God.

We repeat these familiar words every Sunday, and what Jesus says here is commonly referred to as "the summary" of the Law (or of the Old Testament). I will admit that "summary" cannot be called an inaccurate description, and indeed there are other New Testament texts that seem to support that characterization; nevertheless, is "summary" really the most accurate way of describing what Jesus is saying in this text? He doesn't say that the two commandments, to love God and to love our neighbor, serve as a summary of the Old Testament but that all that is in the Law and in the Prophets "hang" on them, which is not exactly the same thing. Or is it? This Sunday we will see if the distinction is merely a matter of splitting hairs or if it matters in some way. After all, if we're going to affirm something every time we worship together, it behoves us to understand what we are saying as best we are able.