love your God and your neighbour

June 4

Gospel

Mark 12:28-34

'You are not far from the kingdom of God'

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must 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 must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’ The scribe said to him, ‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to question him any more.

Reflection

The passage highlights the two greatest commandments: loving God with everything we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus affirms that these loves summarize the law and the prophets, inviting us to a holistic faith that lives in alignment with God’s heart. The scribe’s recognition that love—not ritual sacrifice—binds us to God echoes a core invitation: let our devotion be concrete, compassionate, and daily. When we place love at the center, Holy Spirit forms within us a heart that seeks God whole-heartedly and reaches out in mercy to others.

Reflection question

How can I reorder my daily life to prioritize loving God fully and showing tangible love to my neighbor in ordinary, practical ways this week?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open my heart to the primacy of love. Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions so that they reflect Your mercy and truth. May my life be a small witness to the kingdom of God, drawing others closer to You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Comments

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