Listen to him

I almost skipped today's lectionary schedule and went with a simple message of Love your neighbor. 
The message of "Love your neighbor" is simple. The act of loving your neighbor can be more difficult. In the end, the message part goes well with this week's text, so here it is.

Mark 9:2-9

The transfiguration is a pretty familiar story to most followers of Jesus. Jesus takes a few select disciples to an isolated place and is transfigured into some glowing type of spirit being. Then two icons from Israel's past appear with him -- Moses, who represents the Law, and Elijah, who represents the prophets. Then a voice speaks from a cloud and tells the disciples that Jesus is his beloved son and they are to listen to him.

As faithful Hebrews, they have been taught that God speaks through the Law and the prophets. Now God is telling them that he speaks through his son. 
Jesus would tell us that he didn't come to do away with the Law. Nor did he come to contradict the prophets. Maybe God was telling us that Jesus would help us to understand the purpose of the Law and the prophets. Maybe this was God's way of saying, "Let me simplify things for you. Listen to Jesus."

Well then, what did Jesus teach?
Love God.
Love your neighbor.
What if we show our love for God by how we love our neighbor?
I'm pretty sure that is the case. I don't think you can actually love God and not love your neighbor -- and yeah, Jesus teaches that, too.

Here's some bad news: Loving your neighbor is hard.
Nobody said it would be easy.

I chose my coffee mug for this morning's post. Groucho the cat is also enjoying the fireplace.

John