Called to love
We are called to love. Notice that we are not asked to love or encouraged to love or even recommended to love. We are called to love. What does that mean? In today's Gospel reading , a Scribe asked Jesus "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied by quoting Scripture (Deuteronomy and Leviticus), " The first is this: Hear, O Israel! 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 . There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mk. 12:28-31). Jesus tells the Scribe and all of us that to love God and to love neighbor are the most important things. There is nothing else you can do that will replace these two commands. In order to love God and others we must first learn how to receive love. It is God who loved ...