Love One Another
Today’s Verses:
John 13:34-35 ESV
(Jesus said) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I put on hold our reflection on Bible verses from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans today. Last night’s events from Washington, D.C., moved me to set it aside and focus on antisemitism.
The news from Washington D.C. last night is a stark reminder of the deep-seated hatred that continues to plague our world. The senseless killing of two Israeli diplomats, an act of antisemitism, rips at the fabric of our common humanity and leaves us searching for understanding and solace. As Lutherans - as Christians - how do we respond to such darkness?
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us a clear and profound commandment: "Love one another, just as I have loved you." This isn't a suggestion; it's a divine imperative. And the "just as I have loved you" is the key. Christ's love was boundless and sacrificial and extended even to those who hated Him. It sought reconciliation, healing, and peace, even in the face of injustice and violence.
In a world where antisemitism and other forms of hatred tragically resurface, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, retreat into our own corners, or respond with anger in kind. Yet, the Gospel calls us to a different path. It calls us to actively resist hatred not by mirroring it but by embodying the very love that hatred seeks to destroy.
This does not mean condoning evil or ignoring injustice. Indeed, as Lutherans, we are called to speak out against all forms of prejudice and discrimination. We acknowledge with sorrow the painful history of antisemitism, even within our own tradition, and we are committed to actively working against it.
Love in the face of hatred is a radical act. It is a choice to see the image of God in every person, even those who act with unimaginable cruelty. It is a commitment to seeking understanding, building bridges, and praying for those who persecute us. It is recognizing that while we condemn sin, we are still called to pray for the sinner, trusting in God's transformative power.
Today, let us mourn with those who mourn. Let us pray for peace where there is conflict. Let us recommit ourselves to dismantling hatred and promoting understanding in our communities and in the wider world. And let us, by God's grace, strive to live out Christ's commandment to love one another, for it is by this love that the world will know we are His disciples.
.Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious and loving God, we come before You this morning with heavy hearts, shaken by the tragic news of violence and hatred in our world, specifically the horrific act of antisemitism that claimed lives in Washington D.C. last night. We pray for the souls of those who were killed, for comfort and strength for their families, and for healing for all who grieve. We confess, Lord, that the presence of such evil can make us feel lost, angry, and afraid. In your mercy, open our hearts to Your Spirit, that we may respond not with despair, but with renewed commitment to your call to love. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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