Love That Governs the Whole Life

Among the confrontational questions in Mark 12, one scribe recognizes that Jesus has answered well and asks about the greatest commandment. Jesus answers by joining wholehearted love for the one God with love for one’s neighbor. Heart, soul, mind, and strength leave no protected compartment where devotion can be withheld. Loving a neighbor as oneself also prevents devotion from becoming merely inward or ceremonial. The scribe understands that these loves matter more than burnt offerings and sacrifices, and Jesus recognizes the wisdom of his answer. For this teacher of the law, the exchange establishes the priority by which religious activity must be measured. For us, it asks whether worship and everyday conduct express the same allegiance. Correct understanding matters, but the command calls for more than identifying the right answer: our attention, energy, choices, and treatment of others must become expressions of love.

Put the Word into practice

Choose one neighbor whose practical need you know, and use a specific portion of your time or resources today to care for that person as you would want to be cared for.

Search the Scripture

According to Jesus’ answer and the scribe’s response, how should love for God and neighbor reshape the way I evaluate my religious activity?

A prayerful response

God, gather my divided heart into wholehearted love for you. Let my worship shape my choices and my treatment of others. Help me give a neighbor the patient, practical care I so readily desire for myself.