Love for God and Neighbour
Scripture Reading: Mark 12: 28-34
By Heeyoung Lim
In Mark 12, the scribe seems to be sincere. His question was about which law was most important and how the entire law could be summarised in one commandment, and it was honest and straightforward.
Jesus quoted first from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This describes a person’s relationship with God. Jesus emphasizes that the essence of the law is love. First, we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength completely and wholeheartedly.
True love for God involves our entire being, shaping our priorities, actions, and intentions. It encompasses everything that we are, everything that God created us to be. We are to love him with our minds, our emotions, and our will.
Loving God requires full engagement, which means loving God holistically. This challenges us to look at where we invest our time, energy, and resources. May we seek and love God with our whole selves, not as an obligation or a task.
The scribe did not ask for the second greatest commandment, but Jesus gave it, quoting from Leviticus 19:18. By giving this commandment, Jesus demonstrated that the two could not be separated. If we love God with our entire being, then we will love our neighbour as well.
Jesus emphasised that love is the foundation of all the commandments and showed us that love of God and love of neighbour are inseparable. True love for others involves empathy, understanding, and genuine care – treating others with the same kindness and compassion we would want for ourselves. Love influences our actions and decisions and our responses to others.
When the scribe responds that love is more important than all offerings and sacrifices, Jesus says to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” The words were meant to encourage the scribe to continue down this path he had described. It may be the equivalent of Jesus’ “Follow me.” This shows that understanding God’s heart and living out love brings us close to God’s kingdom. Jesus commended the scribe, and this is the only commendation of a scribe in Mark’s Gospel.
Jesus showed us unconditional love that accepts without any requirements or expectations. He shared compassionate love that feels deeply for us and seeks to ease our pain. Jesus showed us sacrificial love that willingly gives up his life for our salvation through His cross and death. Through the cross, Jesus demonstrated ultimate forgiveness and extended grace.
Jesus’ love is enduring; it stands through betrayal, pain, and even death. He remained steadfast, loving us despite every challenge. Let us strive for a love that is faithful and does not waver, even in difficult times with others. Let our love for God and neighbour be rooted and unchanging, just as the love of Christ is ingrained in us.
Jesus constantly nurtures us; He taught, encouraged, and corrected His disciples with the aim of growth. His nurturing love encourages us to become who God created us to be. May our love nurture others by supporting, caring, and helping each person grow in their faith and purpose.
Jesus’ affection was shown when He touched the sick, blessed children, and wept with those who grieved. His love is warm and present. Just as Jesus wept, we too have memories of sadness and pain. Many churches observe this day as All Saints’ Day or Remembrance Day, where we remember and pray for our loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord before us, loving God and neighbour here on earth. We are called to be affectionate in our love expressing our care through kindness, warm words, and presence that reminds others of God’s gentle touch.
Jesus’ patience with His disciples, even when they misunderstood or doubted, demonstrates love that waits and understands. May our love be patient, slow to anger, and quick to listen, showing the same patience He extends to us.
Jesus’ generosity was boundless, as He gave of Himself completely even to the point of laying down His life. May we love generously, sharing our time, resources, and talents freely, without expecting anything in return, trusting that God will provide.
Jesus empowered us, calling us to carry out remarkable work for God’s kingdom. He equips and encourages us to be our best. May our love lift others up, seeing their potential and encouraging them, so that they can follow God’s calling.
Jesus’ trust in His followers, even knowing their weaknesses, demonstrates a love that believes in others. Let us strive to build trust, offering love in relationships with family, friends, fellow believers, and neighbours.
Jesus’ love is protective. He stood up for the vulnerable, defended the oppressed, and shelters us with His care. May our love be a protective force, guarding those who need our strength and standing alongside the vulnerable in our communities.
Jesus celebrated with His disciples and invited others to share in the joy of the Kingdom. His love is full of delight. May our love be joyful, celebrating God’s blessings with others and sharing moments of happiness and hope.
As we reflect on the love of Jesus in these ways, we see that He calls us to a life of true love. Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). This love is not merely a feeling but a commitment to live out God’s love in every interaction, every moment, every relationship. May our lives be a testimony to the One who first loved us, and may we carry His love into the world, bringing His light and hope to all.
Jesus Invites us to reflect on love’s role in our faith. How can we embody the greatest commandments of love in our daily lives? Jesus encourages a life where love is central to our relationship with God and others. Jesus invites us to grow in love in our faith journey.
May we love God with our entire being and love one another as we love ourselves and as Jesus loves us.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)