By Reverend Andy Fleming, Chaplain

This term, Secondary School Chapels have focused on Jesus’ command to “love your neighbour as yourself.” This command appears eight times in the Bible, firstly in Leviticus in the Old Testament, and later reinforced by Jesus in the Gospel. Most of the times I have read or heard this command, it is typically associated with who our neighbour is and uses the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s Gospel. The Secondary School students were also asked to consider who their neighbour is and the ways in which they can show love to those they see in need.

I have discovered on many occasions that the command is shortened to, "love your neighbour." It wouldn’t surprise me that there are many in our community who follow this abridged version and burnout, continually denying themselves and putting others' needs before their own, making many sacrifices until they have nothing left to give. A student in my Year 8 Religious and Values Education (RaVE) class recently wrote her own parable expressing how the message was to care for ourselves. The main character expressed their love so much so that they lost their own identity and literally become a shadow of themself as they gave parts of their body to help others. This metaphor warns of the danger of sharing our own resources, energy and emotions until we may also lose ourselves.

The central underlining part of the command is to "love yourself." Knowing we are the focus of God’s love is imperative. God loves us deeply and unconditionally. This is what true grace is – to love another deeply and unconditionally. Before we can give this love, we need to be open to receiving it ourselves. God’s love is the foundation for us to share love. This love strengthens us to love our neighbours - those in need. The Apostle Paul even advises us to share according to our means in 1 Corinthians 8.12: “If a man is ready and willing to give, he should give of what he has, not of what he does not have.” As a good friend shared with me, loving your neighbour as yourself is to help your neighbour flourish just as you yourself hope to flourish.

Nan’s Blessing for You

I’ll never understand the love the Lord Jesus has for you.
I’ll never understand how much He loves you.
But this I know: The He loves you,
He loves you with all of His heart, and you are so precious to Him.
You are unique. You were created for a purpose.
God loves you.
Adapted from a Celtic Blessing from the Northumbria Community.

May you find God’s peace in the week ahead,
Rev. Andy.