Gospel 

Mt 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall 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 is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Sermon

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today's Gospel passage presents us with a powerful teaching from Jesus. When asked by a scholar of the law to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus responds with clarity and simplicity. He says, "You shall 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 is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

In a world filled with complexity and division, Jesus cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of the matter. He reminds us that our relationship with God and our relationship with others are intimately connected.

Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind means surrendering our entire being to Him. It means prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else.

But Jesus doesn't stop there. He adds a second commandment that is equally important: loving our neighbor as ourselves. This means recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, and treating them with kindness, compassion, and respect.

Jesus says that the whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. In other words, everything else flows from our love for God and our love for others.

As we reflect on this passage, let us ask ourselves:

- Are we prioritizing our relationship with God, or have we allowed other things to take His place?

- Are we loving our neighbors as ourselves, or are there people in our lives who we have neglected or mistreated?

May we take Jesus' words to heart and strive to live out these two great commandments. May our love for God and our love for others be the guiding principles of our lives.

Prayer

Let us pray: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty, merciful and loving God,

We thank you for the powerful teaching of Jesus, reminding us of the greatest commandment. Help us to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind, surrendering our entire being to you.

May our relationship with you be our top priority, above all else. Help us to recognize and repent of anything that has taken your place in our lives.

We also pray to love our neighbors as ourselves, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. Give us kindness, compassion, and respect for all people, especially those we may have neglected or mistreated.

May your love be the guiding principle of our lives, flowing into every aspect of our being and relationships. Help us to live out these two great commandments, and may our lives be a reflection of your love.

In Jesus' most holy name we pray, Amen.

Additional prayer points:

- Ask for forgiveness for neglecting or mistreating others

- Pray for specific relationships in your life, asking for guidance on how to love and serve others better

- Ask for the grace to prioritize your relationship with God and to surrender your entire being to Him

- Pray for the ability to see others through God's eyes, recognizing their inherent dignity and worth.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

Rev. Fr. Jhimerson Maneclang,SCJ