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?” Jesus answered him, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 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.’ The second is this, ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 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’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love ones neighbor as oneself,’ – this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 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.
Mark 12: 28 – 34
As was briefly touched on yesterday, God expects His vineyard to bear fruit. And He does let us know what is of the highest value to Him: loving Him, and loving others as ourselves. When stated so simply, this seems to be an easy request to fulfill; but it is not. Placing God’s will above our own is hard; if it weren’t, Adam and Eve would have never sent us collectively down the path of sin. Add to that, loving others – placing their needs above our own – another impossible task, humanly speaking. God does give us His grace, and He makes it possible. But only in His grace, through His Spirit. Let us ask God to grant us His grace to love Him more, and to love others more. The first step on this road is asking God for help and forgiving others for the wrongs they caused us, for it is hard to give God our whole heart when we are carrying grudges toward others.
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
Now, here in these prayers, what fragrant incense shall I offer,
pleasing and acceptable to you, blessed heavenly King Christ?
I have forgiven my debtors with all my soul,
so that you might block the cruel wishes of my spiteful voice.
And on my knees repeatedly, I have prayed with all my heart,
for reconciliation with those who have betrayed me.
I pray for them along with those who have shown me kindness.
Only you are able to deliver me from these things
restoring to life my soul.
For you alone, Lord Christ,
revered doer of good,
with the boundless glory of the Father
and the Holy Spirit
are blessed forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer 55 B, C, F
