Mark 12:28–34

One of the scribes came near and heard Jesus and the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus 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 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,’ —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 question.

Reflection

It’s only in recent years that I that this has been one of my favorite scripture passages. At one point my eyes were opened and I saw how simple it is to live as God asks us to live and how difficult it can be. Nevertheless, as events have unfolded in recent years it is so helpful to me to rely on this passage when there is a moral question. I think of Jesus and his responses to questions people used in an attempt to “trip him up.” He always gave an answer that was loving because it offered the correct path. Is the answer one is considering in the service of love?