Image from youtube.com
Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/3YCJQB8
View here: https://bit.ly/40iEUmb
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12:28-34 NIV)
Dear Friend, as we pray together, may we join in prayer for Mrs. Elisa Gaytan of Edinburg, who finds herself in the hospital after several days of not feeling well and doctors not being able to determine her malady. May God give her comfort and wisdom to the doctors so that she may be on the path of a speedy recovery! Thank you and God bless you and your needs as we pray for this dear lady.
In the 1980s, there was no book yet written devoted to teaching or learning about love. A very popular professor at a major university wanted to teach a course on love and searched high and low for a textbook on love. Nada. Nothing out there. So, the professor wrote one. Dr. Leo Buscaglia, remembered as "Dr. Love," was teaching at the University of Southern California (USC) when he wrote the book called Love. To sum up this book and much of what he taught we have this very powerful quote:
Buscaglia's message is simple yet profound: "Love is open arms. If you clsoe your arms about love, you will find that you are lfet holding only yourself."
What Dr. B discovered is that we usually learn love from our parents or those adults who are charged with our development. It is our hope that we were taught to love in a genuine and open way. Sadly, we know that that it not so. Some people love only those whom they were taught to love; usually those who look, sound, dress, and smell like us. Any others, unlike us, are not welcome. We find that we change that thinking if we expand our horizons and interact with more people.
Enter Jesus. What a man! What a God! Jesus was love and His ministry was all about love. And as such, we should not be shocked to know that He was killed by those who did not love Him. Yet, His ministry was about love and in today's passage we come to Him being asked about the commandments. The commandments were the specialty of the teachers of the law, and one of them comes to Jesus and asks Him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Hmm, is this subjective or objective? Jesus knows: "The most important one, is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
In this passage, Jesus distills the essence of the law into two profound commandments that capture the heart of our faith. The first commandment calls us to love God wholeheartedly—with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This holistic love requires our complete devotion, not merely in moments of worship but woven into the fabric of our daily lives. It challenges us to ask: How can I love God more fully today?
The second commandment directs our love outward toward others: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This isn’t just about the people we like or those who are easy to love. It pushes us to reflect on our attitudes toward everyone in our lives, including those who may be different from us or even difficult to love. In a world rife with division, these two commandments are a unifying call to action, inviting us to embody a love that transcends boundaries.
What’s significant in this interaction is the recognition of the teacher of the law who acknowledges that loving God and others surpasses ritualistic practices. Jesus affirms him, saying, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Herein lies a powerful truth: our proximity to God’s kingdom is not about our adherence to rules or traditions but our willingness to love.
As you meditate on this passage, consider how love is both the foundation and the expression of your faith. Reflect on how your love for God influences your relationships with others. Are there ways in which you can cultivate this love more deeply?
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for the gift of Your love and for teaching us what it means to love You and those around us. Help us to internalize these commandments and to embody Your love in our actions. May our hearts overflow with compassion and kindness, drawing us closer to Your kingdom. Guide us as we strive to live out our faith authentically. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Seek a practical way to express your love for God and your neighbor today. This might mean dedicating time for prayer and worship, serving someone in need, or reaching out to a neighbor with kindness.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
