Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Today’s gospel from St. Mark opens with the beautiful words of the Shema, the prayer mounted on the doorpost of every Jewish home: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Dt 6:5). Jesus quoted this famous text from Deuteronomy in response to a scribe’s question “Which is the greatest of all commandments?” Jesus was very much pleased when the scribe added to the passage, “‘and to love your neighbor as yourself’ [Lv 9:18] is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mk 12:33). Jesus could see that the scribe understood the real meaning of the commandment. Yes, we must love the Lord with all our heart, understanding, and strength, but this love must reach out to our brothers and sisters as well. Saint John makes this statute even clearer: “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:19-21).
The gospel points us toward the authentic meaning of sacrifice. We present the most profound offering of praise to the Father when we extend sacrificial love to our neighbor. Jesus himself set the example for us. He poured out his life for our sake and thereby glorified his heavenly Father. We demonstrate our love for God by our charity on behalf of each other. Let us then follow in Christ’s footsteps that we, like the scribe, may hear him say to us “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” (Mk 12:34).
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections