June 8 2006

Mk 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,“Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions. The gifts of love and faith are from God. I am grateful that I have been given these gifts. I feel that to use them is to renew them and help them to grow and flourish. The more that I am able to truly give love to others, the more that my heart grows to receive it also. We are not made to live alone in this world but with each other and in helping each other we fill and complete each other in ways that were meant to be. When God created Adam and saw Adam alone, God saw that more was needed that Adam would not be filled with having the creatures on earth but no other being like himself. Eve is a part of Adam and we are all a part of each other and need each other.