Dear Disciples of Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,

Why is it that human nature seems to want to barter with God? Think about that for a moment. Abraham bartered with God about how many people it would take to prevent Sodom and Gomorrah from being destroyed. Lot bartered with the angel to go to a nearby city when he fled Sodom. How many times have we attempted to barter with God over winning two extra large Lottos? Lord, I will give so much % to charity, St. Jude’s Hospital, Cancer research, feed starving families, displaced refugees etc. etc. You get the picture.

It is only natural. We humans love to barter. So why wouldn’t the Scholar ask the question, “And who is my neighbor?” This question is not the surprise but Jesus’ answer sure is. A Good Samaritan? Why yes, he is.

Moses in the Book of Deuteronomy answers that proverbial question, why? The definite answer is the truth as God presents it. Moses speaks to the people of Israel on behalf of God, “…No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts, you have only to carry it out.”

God’s Word is in us. We have heard it and we have spoken it in prayer, at Mass, and when studying the Bible. The key for all of us is the second half of his response. “You have only to carry it out.”

There is no pleading. Bartering is futile. Procrastinating only makes things worse. Acceptance is the proper stance and responding is the proper action, “…to carry it out.” It echoes last week’s message, “Go, you are sent.”

The good news in this besides being part of the Gospel is the presence of love. God’s infinite love for us accompanies the command. Jesus made a promise at the Last Supper that if we love as he has loved us then he will remain in us just as the Father lives in him. He then doubles down on that promise by adding that his joy will also remain in us and our will become complete.

The lesson here is quite simple. Jesus loves us. He revealed the Father’s love for us. Now he is asking us to acknowledge that love and be prepared to “carry it out” whenever there is a need for it. As Jesus presented the Father’s love to us. We are to bear his love (Jesus’) to others.

What does that ’70s folk song say? “And they will know we are Christians by our love by our love. Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.”

Now we only need to follow the command, “You have only to carry it out.”

Fr. Tom