To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Tim 2:8-15; Mk 12:28-34
While in Matthew 22:35, the lawyer
asks Jesus the question about the great commandment in order to test Jesus; in
Mark he is not hostile. As a matter of fact Mark mentions at the beginning of
the incident that he thought that Jesus had answered the Sadducees well and at
the end he commends Jesus for his answer. Jesus responds in the words of the
“Shema”, which speaks of love of God (Deut 6:5-6), but adds also the love of
neighbour (Lev 19:18). The scribe’s response to this is to acknowledge Jesus’
answer as correct and to add that following these commandments is greater than
sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jesus concludes the dialogue by stating that
because the scribe has recognised what his priorities are, he is not far from
the kingdom of God.
Love of God cannot really be
separated from love of neighbour. The two go together. Our love for God is made
manifest and tangible only when we reach out in love to someone
else. While Paul gives a beautiful description of what love is and what it
is not in 1 Corinthians 13, my own definition of love is that in love there is
no “I”.
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