Written by: Nancy Ulerich
Reading: Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
What a different world this would be if we could follow these commandments. We fall so short. Jesus, however, modeled a fully loving God by submitting to crucifixion. He was able to love God the Father enough to have the strength to follow His plan. And, he was able to love his neighbors enough to perform the ultimate sacrifice for them.
Jesus’ sacrifice of love ended all sacrificial needs. My need for his sacrifice is so clear when I consider how far short I fall from following the greatest commandments.
Dear God, help me to love you more. Let me align my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength with love for you. Grant me more patience and acceptance to be a better follower of the commandment to love my neighbor as myself. I know it is only through my acceptance of your love that I can even attempt this. Amen.
Reading: Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
What a different world this would be if we could follow these commandments. We fall so short. Jesus, however, modeled a fully loving God by submitting to crucifixion. He was able to love God the Father enough to have the strength to follow His plan. And, he was able to love his neighbors enough to perform the ultimate sacrifice for them.
Jesus’ sacrifice of love ended all sacrificial needs. My need for his sacrifice is so clear when I consider how far short I fall from following the greatest commandments.
Dear God, help me to love you more. Let me align my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength with love for you. Grant me more patience and acceptance to be a better follower of the commandment to love my neighbor as myself. I know it is only through my acceptance of your love that I can even attempt this. Amen.
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