Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (22: 34-40) in which Jesus responds to the question ‘which is the greatest commandment?’ saying, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Fr Paul says familiarity with Jesus’ answer to the question about the greatest commandment blunts our awareness of its startling directness. Answers could be given, singling out one of the ten commandments as the greatest, the most important basis of society. But Jesus does not do this.

The answer that Jesus gives to the question slams home, turning away from self to God. To ‘Love’, not ‘obey’ or ‘adore’ or ‘fear’ or ‘reverence’.

Love is not just the warmth of companionship, but it is also the willing generosity of mother to helpless young child or a daughter who cares for a helpless old parent. Love is a wife who cares for her alcoholic husband or the husband who cares for his sick wife.

Love is seeking nothing else but the happiness of the receiver.

Today, Fr Paul invites us to reflect on this question, ‘How well do I live out the greatest commandment?’