“What is the greatest commandment” Sermon on Bibs or Aprons, Fr Michael Margitich

Glory be to Jesus Christ. Today we heard two

Gospels, one for the regular designated Sunday

Gospel and the other in commemoration of the

Sunday before the glorious Elevation of the Cross,

which we celebrate tomorrow. In this morning's

Gospel reading from Matthew, the evangelists

tell us that the Pharisees instructed one of

the lawyers to approach Christ with a kind of

a trick question. This text says that they tempted

him. The question is, which master is the greatest

commandment? Now, it's important to note why

this question was raised in the first place.

At the time of our Lord, there were some 613

commandments based on the old Mosaic law. 613.

365 of them were negative and 216 were positive.

That all the Jews were required to follow. So

thus the importance of this trick question. Master,

which is the greatest commandment? Jesus answered

by quoting from the Old Testament, from the book

of Deuteronomy. Love the Lord your God with all

your heart and soul and mind. This, he said,

is the first and great commandment. And the second,

Jesus said, is equally important. Notice, equally

important. Love your neighbor as yourself. On

these two commandments, the whole structure of

the testament is based. It summarizes The belief

and faith in God. They contain, these two contain

all of the teachings. But throughout history,

there are always those who have tended to separate

belief in God from their daily actions. And the

way a person can can show his or her love for

God is by reflecting it to others. As St. John

in one of his epistles says, how could you love

God whom you can't see if you can't love your

brother whom you see? So throughout the New Testament,

The supreme virtue, the supreme question, the

supreme answer is always, how do I love God and

do I love others? Jesus said, a new commandment

I give unto you, that you love one another. But

he didn't stop there. That you love one another

as I have loved you. And we heard in the gospel,

God so loved the world, so loved us, that he

gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes

in him should not perish, but have everlasting

life. Jesus, by this teaching, has forever linked,

forever. The love of God with the love of man.

And in that unsurpassable love, which he demonstrated

before the night he was crucified, he gathered

his apostles at the Last Supper. He took off

his outer garments, wrapped a towel around him,

And washed the feet of his disciples. Who could

ever forget. That incredibly magnificent parable

of the Good Samaritan. Again. It's love. By this

act Jesus said. You link these two commandments.

God. and let love forever. And on this Sunday,

before the cross, before the feast of the Elevation

of the Cross, and before, shall we, in quotes,

the Feast of Glendy, I want to recognize and

express thanks And admiration to all of you who

have worked so faithfully, willingly, lovingly

in promoting this event. And I want to say that

all our parishioners, except those who are over

85, as Father Lawrence said last year, they are

exempt. but should be in one way or another involved.

And the reason I say this is because everything

you and I do as Christians must be rooted in

what the Lord said. I have come not to be ministered

unto, but to minister, to minister. Glendi, from

the beginning, was never simply, as I understood

it, and I'm here since August 1st, 1990, so I've

been a participant in this activity. It never

was, nor is it simply, a... Attempt. To increase.

The coffers of the church. It's more than a fundraiser.

It is an expression. Of our outreach. To the

community. It is an expression. Of our opportunity.

To do evangelism. An opportunity. To show love.

For Christ. his church, and for our community.

Now I should end here with a period. But I can't.

Because when I reflect on the multitude of blessings

that we in this community have received throughout

these past years, I want to suggest that we give

thanks to God. We give thanks because, as you

heard in both scriptures, we have countless blessings.

And because of that, I want to suggest that our

parishioners Those of you who can. Instead of

wearing bibs, I want you to wear aprons. And

I say this for this reason. Bibs are for those

who are more interested in being served than

in serving. Hear me. Bibs are for those who think

that the church exists for them and for their

needs. Bibs are for those who have not completely

understood the implications of the great commandment

and the second that is equally as important.

Love God with all your being, your total being.

Love God and the loving God. You can't help but

loving your neighbors. Now, aprons, on the other

hand, are for those who are willing to make an

effort. For those who are willing to serve God

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Aprons

are for those who want to see the church grow

and have decided that lukewarm faith, separating

belief in God and serving others, is not what

the Christian faith is all about. When the church

ceases, To be missionary in its outlook. And

in its ministry. The church ceases to be. What

God in Christ intended to be. On this Sunday.

I want to remind you. That on the great feast.

Of Pentecost. Let me recall what we sing. That

with the gift of the Holy Spirit, the whole world,

not just a part of it, but the whole world is

being brought into the net of God's kingdom.

This, among other efforts, is the reason We celebrate

this blending because it is an outreach, an evangelistic

outreach to others. And finally, an expression

to those outside of this community of the love

and concern. of our parish in bringing the world

into the net of God's kingdom. Amen.