Mark 12:30-31
The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall 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 shall love your neighbor as yourself.
One of the classic films that always comes on TV around Easter is "The Ten Commandments." The effects are hokey and the acting is often over the top, but the story is one that has lasted for centuries. In the scene where God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, he does it with fire and authority…and in a deep, powerful, authoritative voice. God doesn't sound very loving.
Today's reading from Mark has the scribe asking Jesus, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" In other words, he was asking "which one is most important?" Jesus answers that love trumps all. If you don't have love, it makes it impossible to follow them. It's really simple if you think about it. If you don't have love, then you can't respect God, your parents, other's property, etc. There are times when we slip and our emotions and temptation get in the way. God is Love. If you don't have love in your heart then you can't know God. It's a love that surpasses all understanding. The birth of a child; the experience of Easter baptism; the true, unmistakable love at a marriage; even being with someone as they pass away: these are all times when can experience the real love of God and that he truly exists. Spend time this lent in prayer or in a chapel meditating on the love of God and how you can grow more in love with him by loving and respecting your neighbor, coworker and even strangers.
