The message in this week’s Sunday gospel is that the most important commandment is love. This has been God’s message to humanity from the beginning of God’s conversation with humanity.
When asked which is the most important commandment, Jesus shows his profound knowledge of the Old Testament by quoting the Shema, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Jewish children learned this prayer from the age of seven, and they could always fall back on this. It was prayed by prayerful Jews two or three times a day. It is a very good place to meet a scribe. And then Jesus continues, “And you are to
love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” In the Message translation, “with all your passion, prayer, intelligence and energy.” This is with every part of us.
Love is why we were created, and it is for love that we were created. God is love, and God has created us in love, and God is about love. Since God is love, love will never end. When we are united in love, we, too, do not end. In John 15:4, Jesus says, “Remain in me as I remain in you.” This is the intimacy of love to which we are invited – being one! This is about a real relationship, not master to subordinate, not a king to subject, but a
loving relationship with our “Abba” or Triune God who displays to us the deepest of relationships, total mutual giving and receiving. We are invited into that relationship of love.
What is my passion?
To whom do I speak when I pray?
Where do I aim my intelligence and energy in my life?
How do I express my love of God?
Does my relationship with God bring meaning to my life?
