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?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 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.” 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.” Mark 12:28-34
Dear Jesus, You cleared away all the piffle that so many earthly laws create for our souls. You made it simple and clear. When you were challenged to come up with the two most important laws, you put God the father first and all people second. You told us to love God and people. That’s profound, simple and clear. But then you ended the conversation with an invitation to believe in you. It was intriguing and subtle. You said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Once the law is clarified and reduced to its two key components, it’s still law. No one can keep it. We all need you to save us. You were and are the embodiment of the two great commands. You never once failed them. You did that for me. My life is covered by yours. Thank you for keeping the greatest commandments in my place. Now empower me to keep them from the heart. Make me a lover of God and people because I want to not because I feel I ought to. Use your race to make me a pure-hearted servant. Amen.
Learn to love people and at the same time you’ll learn to love the God who made them.