This weekend we hear proclaimed from the Letter to the Romans that whatever other commands there may be, they are “summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ … therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:9-10).

Some people baulk at the words “law” and “love” being used in the same sentence. I understand their hesitation, given that love in its pure sense never comes with conditions attached. It is a gift offered freely. Paul intentionally broke away from thinking of the law of love as obeying a book of rules to seeing it as following Christ who guides all our choices, determinations, decisions, and even sometimes our duties and responsibilites. It’s not a burden, but
a joyful gift-giving. We do not follow laws for their own sake; we follow Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we hear preachers and teachers say that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the “People of the Book”. While Judaism does have the Torah, Christians have the Bible and Islam has the Qu’ran, the Word Christians follow is not in a text but in a God who has become flesh and blood.