Daily Word Of God
Mark 12:28b-34
One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a further 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.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel Jesus proclaims that the greatest of all commandments is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and then love your neighbour as yourself.
- How often do we find that it is so “easy” to love God and not love our neighbour and those who have hurt us? If so, then we need to change our perception of life to see God’s presence in all peoples.
- Are there other distorted perceptions in life that prevent you from growing in your personal relationship with the Lord? Begin with what causes you pain, which person is most difficult to relate to and what are your greatest temptations?