The greatest commandmet

Readings for Friday August 21, 2009

Memorial of Saint Pius X, pope

First Reading: Ruth 1:1,3-6,14-16,22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40


When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:34-40)

The greatest commandment; "Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This means that no other commandment is greater that this. This is first and foremost among the commandments. It seems as though this commandment needs to be given the highest priority. Now why do you think that is? Why not, thou shalt not steal? Or why not the warnings against adultery and fornication? Why love the Lord with all that we are? Because, unless we are willing to love God with all that we are, how else would we be able to follow the rest of His commandments? Think about it, if you truly love someone, then you are willing to do anything for them, no matter the sacrifice or inconvenience. If we love God with all that we are, and do not hold anything back from Him, then we will be able to do anything else that He asks. We will be able to follow Him where ever He leads us, because we love Him.

Today, we need to ask ourselves two questions: 1) Am I loving God first in my life, and building my life around this love of God? 2) What can I do differently in my life that can help me love and sacrifice more for Him?

The Lord loves us without holding back, shouldn't we show that same type of love?
Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are our one true and loving God. Help us to follow you where ever you lead us to. Lord, help increase our faith, so that we can follow you without hesitation and without any doubt. God, we thank you for your love and mercy, and we pray for the strength to let go of the things of this world. We thank you and give you praise for all that we have and all that we are. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.