Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.

This is the greatest commandment. 

"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 

Jesus replied, “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.” 

"The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

"And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” 

"And no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mark 12: 28 - 34).

Thursday 8th June 2023 in the 9th Week in Ordinary Time. 

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus answered the scribe:  Do you want to know the greatest commandment? To fulfill the law perfectly, love God with all your heart and all your being and love your neighbor likewise. 

Genuine love for God is inseparable from genuine love of neighbor.

If we desire to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, we must love God as Jesus loves Him. How?

Embrace God's holy, gracious and mysterious will in everything, everywhere and always. We must believe and act like Jesus: "My food is to do the will of God." We must believe firmly and repeat often: "Father, in Your will is our peace."

St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church writes:

"When we will what God wills, it is our own greatest good that we will; for God desires what is for our greatest advantage. Let your constant practice be to offer yourself to God, that He do with you what He pleases."

The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the month of June. Friday June 16th is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com