Serving God
Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law. Grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbors as ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Leonine Sacramentary)
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NRSV
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Mark 12:28-34 NRSV
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and 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.”
Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
When you decide to reject all other gods and lords and have no god or lord except the one God and Lord, you have declared war on all others without treaty. (Origen)
This is the summit of virtue, the foundation of all God’s commandments: to the love of God is joined also love of neighbor. One who loves God does not neglect his brother, nor esteem money more than a limb of his own but shows him great generosity. (Chrysostom)
God cannot be loved apart from our neighbor, nor our neighbor apart from God . . . There is only one adequate confirmation of whole-hearted love of God – laboring steadily for the needy in your midst, exercising continuing care of them. (The Venerable Bede)
Almighty God, loving Lord, and faithful Father,
We ask you to fill us afresh today with your Holy Spirit, so that we might truly love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We remember the words of our Lord Jesus, who said that “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38 NKJV). May that river overflow with love for you and for all with whom we cross paths. May the fullness of your Spirit within us overflow in a river of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). We reject all other gods. We reject all other objects of worship. We are yours alone, O God. Receive us today, we pray. Amen.
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
https://youtu.be/Jr-ZK24uHxM?si=f0HdQSbQkDIBKohC
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
