Scripture:
Tobit 6: 10-11; 7: 1bede, 9-17;8: a4-9a
Mark 12: 28-34
Reflection:
The Greatest Commandment: Love God and Love Others
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, verses 28 to 34, we find a powerful exchange between Jesus and a scribe. The scribe approaches Jesus and asks, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus responds, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
These words of Jesus encapsulate the essence of true spirituality and righteousness. Love for God and love for others form the foundation of a fulfilled life. Jesus reveals that our devotion to God should be complete and all-encompassing, involving every aspect of our being – heart, soul, mind, and strength. This love for God should overflow into our relationships with others, where we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.
By emphasizing these two commandments, Jesus highlights the interconnectedness of our love for God and our love for fellow human beings. Loving God requires us to genuinely care for those around us, treating them with kindness, compassion, and respect. It compels us to go beyond mere religious rituals and extend a helping hand to the marginalized, show empathy to the hurting, and offer forgiveness to the broken.
This teaching challenges us to examine the priorities in our lives. Are we truly loving God with our whole being? Are we actively expressing that love through our actions toward others? It’s easy to get caught up in religious activities without experiencing the transformational power of love. Jesus invites us to a deeper understanding of faith, urging us to embody love in all that we do.
As we embrace the greatest commandment, we find that love has the potential to change lives and bring healing to a broken world. It is through genuine love, both for God and our neighbors, that we can make a meaningful impact and leave a lasting legacy of compassion and grace.
Let us heed Jesus’ words today and allow love to be the guiding principle in our lives. As we walk in love, we embody the essence of true discipleship and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.
Deacon Peter Smith serves at St. Mary’s/Holy Family Parishes in Alabama. He is a retired Theology teacher from Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, a retired soldier from the US Air Force, and a member of the Passionist Family.