Reflection: Love God, love others. This is the core of our Christian faith. Just to make sure we get the point, the Great Commandment is included in three of the four gospels (see also Mark 12:28-31 and Luke 10:25-28).
But as with anything that’s repeated, it can lose significance – especially for those of us who might consider ourselves ‘mature’ Christians. Isn’t the Great Commandment the equivalent of Lesson 101? Shouldn’t we have moved on to more complex and challenging topics by now?
While the Great Commandment may be simple in its presentation, it’s incredibly challenging in its implementation. We’re to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. That’s a lot to ask! We’re to love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves. That’s also a big call – both for those with egocentric tendencies and those with a diminished self-worth (or those, like me, who struggle with both, depending on the day).
Perhaps it is the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of loving God and loving our neighbour that makes it the most important commandment. If we get that right – or at least try our best to do so – then everything else flows from it.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to remember what is Great in Your eyes and to put first the things that you put first. Help us never to get too comfortable nor grow too weary in seeking to love you and love others. Thank you that your grace and mercy are there to catch us and you forgive us when we fail. Amen.