Which is the greatest commandment of God?

Image via WikipediaThis is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary time and this week’s reading is as follows:
[Exodus 22: 20-26] [1 Thessalonians 1:5 -10] [Matthew 22:34-40]

This week’s reading is perhaps what we have been dealing with recently in this blog. Jesus replied to the Pharisees when they asked him “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” (Mt 22:36).

As we know by now, Jesus replied that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second to love our neighbour.

“On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.” (Mt 22:40). Why did Jesus said they these 2 are the most important?

Because there is no real love for God without the neighbour! As in Mt25:

40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."

So what better way to show (and proved) one’s love for God by loving one’s neighbour?

This is perhaps the biggest challenge that Jesus has thrown to us. To be His true disciple, we need to listen and act on His words.

Loving God is easy as He is perfect. Most of the time, we associate that with professing and singing praises and worship. While that is good but many do it as a form of lip service only. There is no real love from the heart. Did I love my neighbour like like myself? It will be much harder to love one's neighbour wholeheartedly. But it is possible if we are truly converted in our hearts.

Let’s pray that we will start loving each other like ourselves so that this world will become a better place for all of us.

"Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love." (1Jn 4:8)