According to the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, God prescribed Ten Commandments for the Israelites who were journeying through the deserts after being freed from the slavery of Egyptians. Moses received them on Mount Sinai, as the people making the arduous journey towards the Promised Land began going astray and falling into sinful ways. The Ten Commandments, given sometime around 10th century BC, were strictly observed by the Israelites (Jews) then and continue to be observed to this day both by Jews and Christians. Some of these commandments are also found in the Holy Quran.
Almost a thousand years later came Jesus on the scene, a Jew himself. Having learnt these commandments, he too observed them. But it is on the question of the observance of these command-ments and some other prescriptions in the Old Testament that he often got into conflict with the religious leaders of the time, known as the Pharisees and Sadducees. His listeners found what he said very refreshing, though in the end it got him in serious trouble with the authorities and that led to his death sentence on the Cross.
In the context of such strict observance of the commandments and laws, once Jesus was asked as to which was the greatest commandment. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind… The second is, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’”, and added, “these two sum up the whole law and the prophets.”
Persisting on the same line, He once told His followers, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you… By this will all know that you are my disciples.”
His famous apostle Paul frequently hammered on the same note, saying, “Let love be without hypocrisy… Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” And, “Let all that you do be done in love.” Paul said, “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’”
While all religions underline the observance of rituals, no one would argue that love of one’s neighbour (humanity) is paramount. Only the practice of such love can kill all hatred towards all who follow a different religion and look different from us. In the face of the current catastrophe in the Kashmir Valley, it is such love that can bring them the sweetest solace.
Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religions.
He can be contacted at frdominic@gmail.com
