Bible reading for February 22: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other" (Galatians 5:13-15).

Luther's commentary on the reading: "The whole law is completely summarized in this one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. . . . Serving another person through love seems . . . to mean performing unimportant works such as the following: teaching the erring; comforting the afflicted; encouraging the weak; helping the neighbor in whatever way one can; bearing with his rude manners and impoliteness; putting up with annoyances, labors, and the ingratitude and contempt of men in both the church and state; obeying magistrates; treating one’s parents with respect; being patient in the home with a cranky [spouse] and an unmanageable family, and the like. But believe me, these works are so outstanding and brilliant that the whole world cannot comprehend their usefulness and worth" (Luther's Works, Volume 27).

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