Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

Gracious God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave us a new commandment, to love one another as You love us, to treat our neighbours with the respect, the dignity, the understanding and the kindness that we would like to receive in return. We thank You that in everything He did on earth, Christ witnessed to Your values of equality, justice and acceptance for all people. In His actions we see that all people are worthy in Your sight and all are loved and valued by You. And so we pray that You will help us to continue to strengthen our relationship with You, and ask that You help us to ensure that the relationships we build with one another are rooted in kindness and compassion. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.