The gospel reading this weekend in Roman Catholic churches around the world is a very familiar one to Christians — and with good reason.
In Mark’s telling of the life and ministry of Jesus, an expert on Jewish law and belief asks the itinerant preacher which of the commandments is the most important.
This is a potentially tricky question because there are hundreds of laws that govern Jewish life. This expert, however, isn’t trying to trip up Jesus but is honestly seeking wisdom.
Credit: Mike PD Flickr
Jesus responds by quoting first from the Book of Deuteronomy:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
And then he links that law with another from the Book of Leviticus:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
All of the laws and all of the commandments, not only of Judaism but also of Christianity, come down to this: Love God and love your neighbor. It’s that simple.
How do you love your neighbor?
Well, first off, see your neighbor as the human being that they are. It means putting yourself in their shoes to try to understand how they are trying to live life. And listening to them, hearing them when they talk about their hopes and dreams.
It’s about trusting your neighbor, trusting that your neighbor is trying to do the right thing, just as you are trying to do the right thing.
Forget about the us-and-them poison that demonizes your neighbor.
Remember that, when it comes to the teachings of Jesus, we are all “us.” There is no “them.”
Patrick T. Reardon
11.3.24
Written by : Patrick T. Reardon
For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.