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 neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40. 

According to rabbinic tradition, the accepted number of commandments is 613. 613! These are the laws that the religious leaders are called to follow and enforce. And yet, they ask Jesus which is the greatest, and he tells them, simply, “Love God, love your neighbor.” These two commandments will change the world.

The commandments are familiar pieces of Jewish culture, teaching, and religion. But the way Jesus embodies them upends familiar expectations. “Whose son is he?” the religious leaders ask. “If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” “No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” The religious leaders are stumped, and this is the part of the story where they begin to plot ways to remove the threat.

Today we are still calling ourselves followers of Christ. The mantle of Christ’s teachings, life, responsibilities, and authority have been passed from one generation to the next over thousands of years. And in each of these lives, in yours and in mine, as it was for Moses and Joshua, God is present, and God will remain so throughout all times. Sermons that Work, Anna Sutterisch

Vicar’s Note: We have re-started our mid-week prayer and bible reflection on Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm via zoom. This week, our passage will be from Matthew 23:1-12. Our office secretary will send out the zoom ID at the beginning of each week.
  
The 2020 Order of the Diocese of New Westminster (O.D.N.W.), will honour our very own Leo Golden at a combined worship service on Sunday, November 1^st, 9:00am. We would like to invite you and witness the investiture service for our brother Leo.
Our sister church, Christ the Redeemer Parish in Cloverdale will host an All Saint’s-All Souls event on Sunday, Nov. 1^st, 5:00-7-00pm.  All are Welcome. For more details, please see the brochures at the back of our church. Blessings!