The Gospel Proclamation One of the scribes ... asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Here 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 neighbor 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 neighbor as oneself,’... When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? “... only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.” (Matthew 7:21) According to Jesus it is nothing other than - first, love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - second, love your neighbour as yourself. This is the greatest commandment. “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8) The various facets of God’s love are clearly evinced in - the woman caught in adultery, healing of a man born blind, Lazarus brought to life, widow’s son brought to life in Naim and chasing away of traders from the church in Jerusalem. Thus it is clear what Lord Jesus Christ expects of His followers. ‘Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven’s glory was made manifest. The Church never tires singing the glory of this night. The virgin today brings into the world the eternal. And the earth offers a cave to the inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise Him. And the Magi advance with the star, for You are born for us, Little Child, God eternal. (C.C.C. 525)
Gaze at my sonship God’s love is unconditional. To Him every living person is either His son or daughter irrespective of differences created by man. We as humans cannot fathom His love. When we work without His love (and guidance) we work almost in vain. For our work to be fruitful, our heart should be filled with the love of God. Many of Jesus’ deeds and words constituted a “sign of contradiction”. Some Pharisees warn Him of the danger He was courting. Jesus praises some of them, like the scribe of Mark 12:34 and dines several times at their homes. Jesus endorses some of the teachings imparted by the elite of God’s people: the resurrection of the dead, certain forms of piety (alms giving, fasting and prayer), the custom of addressing God as Father, and the centrality of the commandment to love God and neighbour. (C.C.C. 575)
Prayer Starter Abba Father, fill our hearts with Your love and keep us faithful to Your Son.
