May 13, 2001

May 13, 2001
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church

Pastor Ole Amund Gillebo

Gospel John 13: 31-35 The new commandment.

The Dalai Lama is visiting the Twin Cities and he is speaking about "Compassion and peace". The spiritual leader of Tibet is a very charming person and his significant laugh and his message about kindness and peace is very much appreciated.

Have you ever had breakfast with The Dalai Lama?  I have not. But when he visited Norway in the beginning of the 1970’s when I was a student, a student colleague was invited to join his breakfast because he was involved in a special church project. My fellow student tells about this very special breakfast. It was entirely quiet for a long time. Nobody spoke a word and the honored guest remained quiet.

 A rather radical theological student wanted to break into this and asked, "I do not know much about your religion, but can you tell me, what is your essential message for the modern world?"

After a while The Dalai Lama responded: Kindness and peace. The student wanted to know more and asked "What about the evil happenings in this world? People have bad thoughts and they make bad plans and they are acting bad, what is your solution?

The monk from Tibet was quiet. He was so for a long time. The student was impatient and asked the question again in a more provocative way.  Then the Tibetan translator knocked his hand on the table in a way that scared the crowd gathered at the table and he said it was impolite to ask the question to His Holiness.

The spiritual leader of Tibet laughed and put his arm around his translator and reached out his hand to the Norwegian student and said. My answer is compassion and peace!

What does Christianity say?  From the Bible and the Gospel for today the answer can be one word: love.  Love is the main word in Christianity.

When Jesus explained to the Scribes and the Pharisees about the greatest commandment he said to them, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." And a second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mat 22:34-40)

In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven."  (Mat 5:43-45)
"Basic Christianity is the Gospel of Love" it is said in a Hymn. The Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson spoke about "the transforming power of love if we ever tried it." He criticized the church for not following Jesus’ message about love.

The commandment about love is to be found in all religions. In spite of this Jesus is saying, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (v 34-35)

What is the new one? The new is, Just as I have loved you! How did Jesus love? He said himself, "No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends."  His love is marked with the cross. His love was selfless sacrifice and service. He carried the burdens of others and raised the one who failed. He brought joy and hope. He brought light where there was darkness. One day His love will fill all in all.  In our time the word love is very much related to sex. This is not proper. True love is very much different than egoism. Christian love is not glamorous or splendid. It crosses the border of selfishness and performs unselfish sacrifice and service. It turns the other cheek and goes the extra mile. True love reaches out a hand in order to give reconciliation. Christian love offers forgiveness and accepts forgiveness. This love is carried by faith and hope.

Listen to what is said by Peter to the congregations: "Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
If we let love be in first place in the congregation, all things will be put in the proper order. Love does not do anything bad and does not say anything that hurts. Love is aware of the needs of others but is blind to their mistakes. It listens to the sighs of pain and is very much creative in finding solutions. It turns down walls and builds bridges and creates strong and joyful fellowships.

And Paul writes, "Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal 6:2)  There are many kinds of burdens within the church. The congregation is a fellowship that carries for others and together with others.

When the infant church was persecuted it was said: The so-called Christians are a strange group. Their opinions are very special and they are living differently than common people and all over they are talking about the man, Jesus from Nazareth, and his resurrection from death. Surely they deserve their punishment. The indictment adds, but look how they are loving one another!  Strange people now present all over in the Roman Empire.

In the hymn in praise of love, the Apostle writes: And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13

Jesus Christ himself proved this is true. May the love of Christ fill our lives and our congregation!

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716