You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.'
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
REFLECTION
"The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these."
"He stretched out His arms and offered to His eternal Father the Sacrifice of His life for our salvation." (Stations of the Cross by St Alphonsus Liguori)
Are we capable of such a love?Examining my life, could I love as God? I am not God but I strife to be like Him. It is easy to say, "I love you" and feel we have done our best. But what is our best?
Love is putting into action that which resides in my soul. If I look forward to receiving God's mercy, I should never fail to do good to others. A servant of love to myself is easy but am I capable of being a servant of love to others?
God provides all things and nourishes everyone. Our faith sustains us in doing what is right. God never leaves us and will provide what is needed.
"If you want your petitions to be heard, hear the petition of others. When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery. Show mercy to others in the same way with the same generosity with the same promptness as you want others to show mercy to you." ( From a sermon by St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop)
Living the Greatest Commandment helps us love our neighbor as ourselves !
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