Mark 12:28-34
This reading today is one I refer to often. In fact it was just the other day that I referenced it in regards to fulfilling the law. Today I'd like to speak to the section of this passage about loving yourself.
This Lent I have encouraged everyone to get in touch with who they are, embrace their humanity to the full and start a real conversation with their creator who longs to hear from them.The fact is that we cannot embrace anyone else, we cannot find true love or a lasting relationship unless we love ourselves.
We cannot reach outward and grow unless we are firmly rooted in self respect, self worth and self love. It is all about realizing how wonderful a creation you are. It is all about realizing that God created you quite intentionally as a gift to humanity. How can you offer that gift unless you are fully aware of who you are and what you are actually giving?
This is not such a hard concept for anyone to grasp but is a challenge to fulfill. Our life can be a journey of discovery to see who we are, we may never fully grasp it. I do know that being rooted in the knowledge of our innate self worth is key. Also key is knowing you are created with intent by a creator who has a better grasp and vision of it all.
What is more of a challenge is being gay. Aside from the attractive differences than what most people feel, there are the constraints, bias and hardness of society towards the gay community and even down to the individual. It is terribly difficult to realize who you are and embrace it when it may have dire consequences. Even if you embrace it on a minor level and were to live on the DL, that closetedness leaves you with a kind of self loathing.
Whatever else you do in life, the key is self love and embracing who you are. Come out, come out wherever you are as the song goes. Know you are loved and a perfect creation made by God.
This Lent I have encouraged everyone to get in touch with who they are, embrace their humanity to the full and start a real conversation with their creator who longs to hear from them.The fact is that we cannot embrace anyone else, we cannot find true love or a lasting relationship unless we love ourselves.
We cannot reach outward and grow unless we are firmly rooted in self respect, self worth and self love. It is all about realizing how wonderful a creation you are. It is all about realizing that God created you quite intentionally as a gift to humanity. How can you offer that gift unless you are fully aware of who you are and what you are actually giving?
This is not such a hard concept for anyone to grasp but is a challenge to fulfill. Our life can be a journey of discovery to see who we are, we may never fully grasp it. I do know that being rooted in the knowledge of our innate self worth is key. Also key is knowing you are created with intent by a creator who has a better grasp and vision of it all.
What is more of a challenge is being gay. Aside from the attractive differences than what most people feel, there are the constraints, bias and hardness of society towards the gay community and even down to the individual. It is terribly difficult to realize who you are and embrace it when it may have dire consequences. Even if you embrace it on a minor level and were to live on the DL, that closetedness leaves you with a kind of self loathing.
Whatever else you do in life, the key is self love and embracing who you are. Come out, come out wherever you are as the song goes. Know you are loved and a perfect creation made by God.
28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ 29Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” 31The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ 32Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; 33and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ 34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.
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