March 28th

By: Andrew Armstrong

OPENING PRAYER

Please take a moment of silence in preparation of this reflection and may God prepare you with new insight.

READING

First Reading : Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ 29 Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 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.” 31 The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ 32 Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; 33 and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

REFLECTION

Lent is a season for us to think and reflect about our lives and actions more carefully, out of love for God, others and ourselves. Today’s Gospel reading tells us of a scribe who witnesses Jesus answering the disputing scribes. Much like the scribe, many of us see people in our lives arguing about their problems or disappointments, and we usually don’t know how to respond to them. Sometimes, even we are scribes, putting God into question. The scribe saw that Jesus  “answered them well”. This is something important to note because Jesus has the answers of eternal life. When our lives seem out of control or overwhelming, we should always turn to Jesus and ask him how he would respond.

The scribe then goes on to ask what is most important of all. This is a question we still ask, centuries later. What is most important to you, to me? Money? Power? Popularity? Jesus answers: ” 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.” He follows by saying: “ ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” This is what is most important to do in our lives: we need to love God most of all. This can be accomplished in many ways through prayer, spending time with Him in adoration and most importantly having a personal relationship with Him.  Then, we need to love our neighbor. This can be accomplished through making time for others and offering other kind gestures. And finally, Jesus invites us to love ourselves, in a holy love, through which we see ourselves truly as God Himself sees us. When we can love ourselves with all our joys and failings, we benefit greatly.  I often find when I do things in this order, life seems to make more sense and become more peaceful and ordered. The scribe realized that Jesus spoke the truth and when we realize God is the way, the truth, and the life, we truly realize how empty we are without Him, and we are able to say, as Peter said in the Gospel of John “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68).

MEDITATION

Please take a moment to reflect on what you’ve read and how it applies to your own life. Does your life reflect how God has called you to live?

  • Have you given time specifically for God and for other people around you?
  • How can you love God more?
  • In which ways can you share Gods love with other people?
  • Please take a moment to thank God for loving you into this world and for walking with you during your life so far. And ask for his help every day to love him and others continually.

CLOSING PRAYER

We pray…

Lord God, I ask for the support you offer me when I need you, may you grant me your enduring peace and joy which helps me to bring the light of your love to others. Thank you Jesus for this day and the days to come. May I also pray for unity among all Christians.

AMEN

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