Gospel Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "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." 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 It's important to realize there were those who lived by the rules and laws of the temple that recognized in Jesus who he was. He had truth. He had wisdom. And in this story, when it comes down to what is really the temple there for? What is religion's goal? What is it asking of us? It's asking us to enter into a way of life that's called the Kingdom of God.
And it's all about love. Loving God, loving ourselves, loving each other. And that's not a feeling. That's not an emotion. It's a powerful force that lives within us, that heals and transforms. Everything depends upon love. It is the power of God in the world.
Closing Prayer Father, awaken us. Open us always to the simplicity of the message of God and the mystery that it contains. When we open ourselves to a gift that is the beginning of our ability to be who God calls us to be. We're called to allow him to be a source of love to all those around us, and thereby establishing his kingdom here. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.