The Golden Rule

In the decades before Jesus began his ministry, there were two competing Rabbinical schools, that of Hillel and that of Shammai. As one story is told, a Gentile approached Rabbi Shammai and said to him, “Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.” Shammai was annoyed at what he felt was the Gentile’s disrespect of the Torah and apparently chased him away with a stick. The same man went to Rabbi Hillel, asked his same question, and Hillel replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and study it.”



Rabbi Hillel was alive and teaching at the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was a child. It’s possible that Jesus may even have heard the revered rabbi teach when he traveled to Jerusalem at Passover time with his parents and stayed behind for three days soaking up rabbinic wisdom.

In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus is asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" As concise as his answer is (love God with all your heart...) it was also fairly mainstream: these were words, known as the Shema that were prayed every day by faithful Jews. What is interesting in Jesus's response is that then he puts loving our neighbor on the same level as loving God, pointing towards a chapter in the book of Leviticus that governs (commands) us how to act toward many of the most vulnerable in society. Indeed, our "neighbor" should be thought of as the one who most needs our care, concern, aid, and help.

Perhaps the truest way, the only way, to love God is by loving the image of God found in others.

Blessings,

Rev Jill

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In Case You Missed It:

here is Rev. Jill's sermon from October 18