Loving God and loving neighbors are inseparable

Ezek 37:1-14; Psalm: 106; Mt 22:34-40

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asked by a Pharisee which commandment in the law is the greatest. Jesus responds by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This commandment emphasizes the importance of having a deep, genuine, and unwavering love for God. It calls us to recognize God as the ultimate source of our existence and to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else.

Jesus then goes on to say, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This second commandment stresses the significance of loving and caring for those around us. It challenges us to treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect, just as we would want to treat ourselves. By loving our neighbors, we demonstrate our love for God, as each person is made in the image and likeness of God.

The greatest commandments to love God and love our neighbors are interconnected and inseparable. Our love for God should naturally overflow into our love for others as we recognize and honor the divine spark that resides within each person. By striving to follow these two commandments, we fulfill the essence of the entire law and embody the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. As we seek to love God and love our neighbors with all our hearts, souls, and minds, we bring about a transformation that reflects the love and grace of God in the world.