The Debt of Love

The Fifteenth Sunday

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Old Testament: Exodus 12:1-14

Psalter: Psalm 149

Epistle: Romans 13:8-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Scripture (complementary)

Old Testament: Ezekiel 33:7-11

Psalter: Psalm 119:33-40

Epistle: Romans 13:8-14

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

___

Prayer

Holy God, you call us to righteousness and light. Teach us the undivided law of love, that we may love your children even as you do, love you with all our will and strength, and find our freedom in this blessed service, taught to us in word and deed by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

___

Reflection

Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off[a] the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Romans 13:8-14).

We’re Even. At times we might say that to someone when we’ve done something good for them after something they have done for us. It’s a way of saying the debt of gratitude has been paid. We don’t owe each other anything.

But that’s not the way the New Testament understands doing good for one another. The second great commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. That commandment has never conditional. There are never any added caveats. We love one another always at all time.

The Apostle Paul states that love is a debt that we owe to one another; and it is a debt that can ever be fully paid. In fact, the it’s always an outstanding debt. We owe love to one another. Love neighbor in the Bible is not some sentimental feeling, although hopefully over time as we grow in neighbor love together, we come to have an affection for each other. But for the Bible to love is to act regardless of how we may feel toward the one who is the object of our love.

For the Christian there can be no time when we will be even when it comes to the love that we owe others and the love that others owe us.

PRAYER: God among us, we gather in the name of your Son to learn love for one another. Turn our feet from evil paths, our hands from shameful deeds, our minds to your wisdom, and our hearts to your grace. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

___

Follow me on Facebook here.