Third Week of Lent – Friday
Reading Mark 12: 28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ 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.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength” and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself, this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any questions.
Reflection We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and are made for love. We are invited to listen deeply to Jesus’ instruction to love God as the supreme and only God; nothing must draw us away from the deepest and most profound worship of our creator. During this Lenten season, I ask myself, is the worship of God central to my life or have many false gods taken His place; has the fire of God’s divine life been snuffed out by materialism, work, or secular interests? Have the words, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.’ (Psalm 103:1) fallen on deaf ears or do they echo deeply in my soul and guide my actions and relationships with others and all of creation. The love to which we are called is fleshed out in the commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and are supported by The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) which offer us life-giving roadmaps for our relationship with all creation.
Genuine love reminds me to also care for myself as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians: 6:19), which then enables me to genuinely care for my neighbour and creation. When I live in love, I am more able to see all as gift given to us by our most generous God, thank him and honour him for his great love.
Prayer
God our Father, I thank you for the gift of my life;
you ask me to love you with my whole heart,
my soul and my mind.
May I honour you with every fibre of my being;
O God of Israel, this day and always, Amen.
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