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The Greatest Commandments

– 31st Week in Ordinary Time –

‘Jesus answered, the first is: Hear O, Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [Mark 12:29-30]

 

In today’s Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the most important. While Jesus is quick to respond that to love God with all we are is the greatest commandment, he doesn’t hesitate to follow up with the second.

It strikes me how the two are inextricably connected. While it’s clear that our priority is our love of God, when we are truly living out that commandment, to love others must follow. Just as a plant needs both roots and branches to flourish, our love for God and neighbour must be deeply rooted in our faith and expressed in our actions. When we love God wholeheartedly, we naturally overflow with love and compassion for those around us.

Today, let us look for ways we can deepen our love for God and others, seeking to live out these commandments with sincerity and authenticity. May our love be a reflection of God’s love for us, drawing others closer to Him through our words and actions.

By Emma Plant

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