Face to Face

God of unimaginable love, you have given us so much and asked so little. In the words of Jesus, we have been commanded to love you with our whole being, love our neighbors, and love ourselves. For that simple price, you have given us everything and promised to love us and not desert us. It is a covenant more generous than anyone could imagine, and yet how often we fail to keep the bargain. We love you when it is convenient and will not embarrass us before others. We pick and choose which neighbors we love. as we pick and choose when we will love ourselves. As we dedicate our gifts this morning to bringing acts of love, may we also resolve to better keep our side of your covenant of love. In Christ, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 22:34-46)