In today’s Gospel, a scholar of the law asks Jesus a question regarding the attainment of eternal life. Jesus in turn asks the scholar if he knows the law regarding. The scholar answers: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” The law is based on a response of love directed at God and others. According to the law, we are called to love God with every fabric of our being. That is, we must love God with mind, heart, and strength. This same love is to be extended also to those around us. In his second question, the scholar is attempting to identify his neighbor. Jesus’ response is straightforward. Your neighbor is the one to whom you are to extend mercy and love. Basically, that comes down to all people; for the simple reason that all are deserving of our love and mercy. The neighbor is not just the person we help in times of need. The neighbor is also the one we show love to even when there is no dire situation. We love, we serve, we help for no other reason than God commands us to do so. So today, love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.
