Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (22:34-40) in which Jesus, when asked, which is the greatest commandment, says, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’” Fr Paul says we are all very familiar with Jesus’ answer to the question in today’s Gospel about which is the greatest of the commandments. Often, because of that familiarity, it blunts our awareness of just how direct Jesus is. 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 Jesus’ gives to the question slams home, turning away from self to God. To ‘Love’, not ‘obey’ or ‘adore’ or ‘fear’ or ‘reverence’. Love, here, 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 her aged parent. Love is a wife who cares for her alcoholic husband or the husband who cares for his sick wife. Love, in this context, is seeking nothing but the happiness of the receiver. With this in mind, Fr Paul invites us for our reflection to consider, ‘How well do I live out the greatest commandment?’