Sixth Sunday of Easter (A) 2020

INTRO:

So, let me ask you at home ……. What is the ONE most important rule in your home, even if you live alone?

For the Singler kids it was: TO MAKE UP OUR BEDS BEFORE WE WENT OFF TO SCHOOL.

LOL….. Till this very day, I STILL DO THAT!  AND, I was taught early on to make MILITARY CORNERS, when making my bed!

Why did I follow the rule?

It was not out of fear for being punished, but it was more out of love for my MOM and DAD. We kids embraced that notion of following the house rules out of love.
(I will say….we weren’t in any way always happy about the rule, but we did it.)

Did you see all the rules we have to follow for when we come back to church?

No singing
Walk this way not that way
Wear a mask
Don’t get near anyone

No matter what we all think of the rules, we are all used to following rules because we have to. It is part of living following rules, whether it is at home, at school, at work…. even riding a bike, there are rules to follow.

So, Jesus enforced rules too. His commandments were numerous found all throughout the stories in the Scriptures. Those rules, if you will….. break down into TWO:

LOVE GOD
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Today, He reminds you and me, that anyone who keeps the commandments (His rules) is the one who loves Him.
Following His rules as best as we can is like a beautiful marriage.

Rules can be difficult to follow; we get weak, we get tired, we don’t like them, and we STILL do the as best as we can out of commitment to LOVE for the OTHER PERSON in our lives making the rules.

CONCLUSION

We live by rules and that is a part of life. So let’s all make the best of RULES at HOME and RULES at church. Let’s take the HIGH ROAD, doing the best we can.