Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 6, 2024

Date: Thursday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Mark 12:28-34

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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today recounts Jesus’ exchange with a scribe over the greatest of the commandments as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. The two greatest commandments according to Jesus are love of the LORD and love of one another. All the law is drawn from this (i.e. the first 3 commandments involve right relationship with our LORD; the final 7 involve right relationship with one another) and all the prophets (calling us to right relationship with our LORD through loving worship and to right relationship with one another through justice) are based on these two greatest commandments.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I live as the LORD commands allowing authentic love to be my guide?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You are love itself. Open our minds, our hearts, our eyes and ears to your great love. Your love informs us. Your love for us helps us to conform to your divine design, your divine will. Your love transforms our minds, our hearts, our lives. Grant that we may become the ones You created us to be, the disciples You call us to be. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.