Gospel – Matthew 22:34-4o
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.”
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.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
It is a scholar of the law who asks this question.
The scholar is not looking for advice on how to please God.
The scholar is trying to test Jesus.
Jesus passes the test by reminding his hearers that love of God and love of neighbor go hand in hand.
We cannot love God, whom we do not see, if we do not love the neighbor, whom we do see.
Jesus does not ask anything of us that he does practice himself.
What good news fills this gospel passage: God loves me with all his heart and soul and mind!
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.