This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it....
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus, it's safe to assume, they had no idea how he might respond to their question, for they could not agree among themselves about "which commandment in the law is the greatest." As they say of lawyers, ministers, and priests, "If they are five in the room there will be ten different opinions."
The question of which commandment is the greatest was, for the Pharisees, as much a game as a serious question. It made for good conversation and loud argument, but remained insoluble...
...until they spoke to Jesus. And he added a duality to the conversation, a both/and which was not an either/or.
Certainly, the LORD demands much of his people and it's often in terms of either/or. To reinforce that teaching, we can cite Deuteronomy 28 with its marvelous blessings for the faithful and its exhaustive list of curses upon the unfaithful. The chapter was written with a fresh memory of the Assyrian and Babylonian sieges, sacks, and rapes of Jerusalem. We must either be a holy people or suffer the wrath of the world which despises the truth, detests love, and abhors holiness. There is nothing between them and us except the powerful protection of our God.
But Jesus added a necessary depth to Deuteronomy 6:5 -- the Shema -- with his coupling of Leviticus 19:18. The two must be bound together. Without the bond we become religious fanatics after the first commandment or do-gooders after the second, with neither direction nor purpose. These opposites might be compared to the liberals who would move ahead of the Church versus the conservatives who lag behind. Both are lost in the wilderness; neither can represent the Lord in a godless world.
Our salvation lies in our solidarity which loves the Lord and loves the neighbor. But we're often surprised to find communion with strangers because the love of truth is universal, and human affection comes with natural human relationships. That surprise comes from our sinful expectation that fears strangers and assumes that we're superior to them.
Once the Lord has assured us of his love for us with a lasting sign of his covenant, that is the crucified body of his incarnate son, he gives us our purpose. We must announce the Good News to all the Earth. My salvation is not about me. Our purpose is not us. Rather, we are sent as a holy people to be a blessing to the nations by our witness, our courageous joy, and our spontaneous generosity.
Their animosity will prove and test our integrity, their welcome will assure their salvation. Ours is a mission that cannot fail.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.