THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
First Reading: Deu. 6:2-6
Second Reading: Heb. 7: 23-28
Gospel Reading: Mk. 12:28-34
* First Reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses asks the people of Israel to Love the Lord their God and to obey His commandments. He tells them that God wants a wholehearted obedience of His commandments and not mere lips service. If they do so, God will bless them abundantly and will give them a land flowing with milk and honey.
* Second Reading is from the letter to Hebrews. It explains that Jesus is the perfect High priest holy and blameless , who offered himself once and for all for sinners and continues to intercede for them. It was not necessary for him to offer sacrifices daily like other high priests who are appointed by law and are weak in nature.
"Love of God and Love of Neighbour"
In the Gospel today, a very important question is put to Jesus by a scribe. 'Which is the greatest commandment?' The answer to this question could be hundreds of answers. In his answer, Jesus gave not one commandment but two. First he said, "Love your God with all your heart , with all your mind and with all your soul" which is a quote from the book of Deuteronomy. Then Jesus added a verse from the book of Leviticus, "and you shall love your neighbour as yourself".
Jesus' simple statements embraced everything we need to do to serve God. Every action of our lives are included in these two laws and demand a radical change in our lives. When we love other people, we are loving people in the image and likeness of God. We cannot love God and hate others.
First of all, the love of God demands a wholehearted commitment from us. It does not begin and end with Sunday Services; but rather, God is the centre and source of our very being.
Secondly, love of neighbour means, good will, boundless and extended to those who may have no personal likeness for us and may not belong to our family, clan or nationality. The perfect example of the love of neighbour is narrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Hence for Jesus, love of neighbour has no boundaries or barriers.
In other words, love of God and love of neighbour are two sides of the same coin. Love of God cannot exist without love of neighbour and vice versa.
God has bestowed on us with the great power to love: where mere matter, our mind, our intellect, our will and our whole self is spontenously converted to the Love of God and Love of neighbour. Jesus is asking us to follow this instinct of love.
"How can I love God and not care for His image" - Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brothers you do to me" Mt. 25:40
First Reading: Deu. 6:2-6
Second Reading: Heb. 7: 23-28
Gospel Reading: Mk. 12:28-34
* First Reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses asks the people of Israel to Love the Lord their God and to obey His commandments. He tells them that God wants a wholehearted obedience of His commandments and not mere lips service. If they do so, God will bless them abundantly and will give them a land flowing with milk and honey.
* Second Reading is from the letter to Hebrews. It explains that Jesus is the perfect High priest holy and blameless , who offered himself once and for all for sinners and continues to intercede for them. It was not necessary for him to offer sacrifices daily like other high priests who are appointed by law and are weak in nature.
"Love of God and Love of Neighbour"
In the Gospel today, a very important question is put to Jesus by a scribe. 'Which is the greatest commandment?' The answer to this question could be hundreds of answers. In his answer, Jesus gave not one commandment but two. First he said, "Love your God with all your heart , with all your mind and with all your soul" which is a quote from the book of Deuteronomy. Then Jesus added a verse from the book of Leviticus, "and you shall love your neighbour as yourself".
Jesus' simple statements embraced everything we need to do to serve God. Every action of our lives are included in these two laws and demand a radical change in our lives. When we love other people, we are loving people in the image and likeness of God. We cannot love God and hate others.
First of all, the love of God demands a wholehearted commitment from us. It does not begin and end with Sunday Services; but rather, God is the centre and source of our very being.
Secondly, love of neighbour means, good will, boundless and extended to those who may have no personal likeness for us and may not belong to our family, clan or nationality. The perfect example of the love of neighbour is narrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Hence for Jesus, love of neighbour has no boundaries or barriers.
In other words, love of God and love of neighbour are two sides of the same coin. Love of God cannot exist without love of neighbour and vice versa.
God has bestowed on us with the great power to love: where mere matter, our mind, our intellect, our will and our whole self is spontenously converted to the Love of God and Love of neighbour. Jesus is asking us to follow this instinct of love.
"How can I love God and not care for His image" - Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"Whatsoever you do to the least of these my brothers you do to me" Mt. 25:40
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