Once again we heard in our reading from the Gospel of Matthew (22:34-46) that the Pharisees are attempting to set a trap for Jesus. This trap was set while they are engaging him in a period of questions and answers. It is true that there is to be found a value in any question, but the real value of the question only becomes clear when the actual motive for the question is understood. When a co-worker asks me if I have been paid yet, there are many possible motives. Is he asking me about pay because he wants to know if I have remembered to pick up my pay? Or is he asking me because he has forgotten when we are being paid? Or is he asking me because he needs to borrow some extra money from me? Or did I somehow forget to repay a loan to him? What is his real motive for the question?
And then there are the questions of motivations for actions. When my friend offers to come over in the evening to watch a special event on TV, is it because he wants to be spending time with me? Or is it because his TV is broken? Or is it because he doesn’t have that Cable Channel? What is the motive for his actions?
In our scripture readings however, it is one of the lawyers of the Pharisees who is asking Jesus a direct question about which is the greatest among the many laws of their faith. In all honesty we know that the lawyer’s real motivation is to set up a trap for Jesus in the presence of his faithful followers. But the answer that Jesus gave did not leave anyone with a chance to set a trap for him; “[Jesus] said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."[1]
And so we should listen carefully to these very critical answers. We, as Christians, are called to first love God with our heart, soul, and mind. And then we are called to love our neighbors as our selves.
But how will this love manifest itself? How will God know that we are in love with God? How will our neighbors know that we are in love with them?
The simplistic answers would be for me to tell you that you are all to attend worship on each and every Sunday, that everyone of you are to go beyond tithing in your giving, and each and every one of you are to be working on at least one committee within the church’s leadership structure. For some of you, the answer would be to stop your resistance and to begin the process of answering your call into ministry. Any yet, even though it would be wonderfully great if every one of you where to follow these paths, the reality is to be found in the motivation.
A young man calls on a young and attractive lady. He is gentle, kind, and courteous with her. But the reality is that he wants others to see him with this attractive young woman so that other beautiful young ladies will want to date him. It also doesn’t hurt that her father has a lot of political pull, and as a result he will in the future have an easy and high paying job. Somethings the motivations are more important than the actions.
A young mother is working as a check-out clerk at a local chain store. An elderly man is paying for his weekly food purchases, and in the process his wallet falls out of his pocket onto the floor. No one notices at this moment, and so he walks away, unaware of what he has left behind. A short while latter the young woman sees that wallet and checking inside for any identification, she finds not only his license but $100 in cash. If she where to keep the money and toss everything else … no one would ever know! And yet she returns that wallet and all of its contents; because she and God would know the truth.
Some of you who hear these words of mine in this time of reflection, might take exception to my thoughts and comments. However, I know my own motivation. As Paul wrote to the faithful community of believers in Thessalonica; “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.”[2] Truly it is about motivation! Why are we doing what we are doing? Are we trying to “buy our way into eternal life?” or are we trying to help our brothers and sisters … our children and grandchildren … to discover a better way of life here in this world, so that when eternity comes we will be able to find our way into the presence of the ever lasting God of Love and Grace.
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