My Neighbor

Jesus told us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and until recently I didn't get exactly how much this command demands of me. In order to love others as I love myself I must first ask the question, "Well, how do I love myself?" Then questions must be asked like, "When I'm hungry, how do I love myself?" "When I'm thirsty, how do I love myself?" When I'm sick, how do I love myself?" Because what Jesus is saying is that whatever answers I have for these kinds of questions is what I should do for others when they are hungry, thirsty, sick, and so on. I should treat others as I would like to be treated myself. I know that none of these ideas are new. I've heard all of them before. So what makes this different. What makes it different to me is the question that Jesus was answering when He said this. What is the greatest commandment? Jesus' response, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Loving your neighbor as yourself is central to the whole gospel message and goes far beyond a warm fuzzy feeling you have for the people you share this planet with. How many of us truly love our neighbors. "On these two cammandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."