2 John 3-5

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.

It shows up everywhere, doesn't it?

Love one another.

Have compassion for one another.

And here, the epistle writer makes clear this is no new commandment. We've heard it before.

We'll hear it again.

And maybe eventually we'll get it.

It's a stark thing to think about this election day. It's been a grueling election cycle, and loving one another hasn't been really the thing that we've seen much of.

But this morning, when I was at the polls I was heartened. The Republican and Democratic tables were right next to each other and the workers from each shared their coffee and donuts. They smiled to each other. Laughed together. Helped hand out stickers together.

Maybe we will get it after all.

Loving Lord, teach me to have compassion always. Amen.