90. The Great Commandment

One of the scribes came, and listened to their questions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them well, he asked, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that God is one, and there is no other; to love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said, “You are not far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one else dared ask any question.

Reflection

The laws of Moses included not only the Ten Commandments, but more than six hundred other laws as well. Each one of these laws was scrutinized to determine exactly what was prohibited and what was allowed. Jesus said this multitude of laws could be summed up like this: love God and your neighbor.  How do you measure up against this simple standard? Do you find it harder to love God or your neighbor? 

Prayer: Keep reminding me, Lord, that endlessly analyzing the law is no substitute for following it.

 

89. People of Peace

As the days went by, Jesus moved toward Jerusalem, and sent messengers on before him to a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival. They didn’t welcome him, though, because he was focused on Jerusalem. When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”

But he turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

The Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will come to rest, but if not, it will return to you. Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. Into whatever city you enter which receives you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom has come near to you.’ But into any city you enter which doesn’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. But know this: God’s kingdom has come near you.’ I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for that city.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the evil spirits are subject to us in your name!”

He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Reflections

Though Jesus felt drawn by destiny to Jerusalem, where people of violence would demand his death, he sent out a large group of his disciples to look for people of peace. Are you a person of peace, welcoming those who come with a message of peace? How do you live in peace as the world becomes ever more hostile and violent? 

Prayer: Help me be a person of peace, Lord, in an angry, hateful world.