Mark 12:28–34 THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

Year A, Friday of the Third Week of Lent

In today’s Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus a question that many people of faith have wondered about: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus answers clearly and beautifully: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And He adds another: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

With this, Jesus shows us that the entire life of faith can be summed up in love. All the commandments, all the teachings, all the practices of religion ultimately lead to this — loving God and loving others.

Sometimes we can make faith very complicated. We may worry about doing everything perfectly or following every rule exactly. But Jesus reminds us that the true measure of our faith is love.

Lent is a time to return to this simple but demanding truth. Our fasting, prayer, and acts of charity are not just religious practices. They are ways of training our hearts to love more deeply — love God more sincerely and love others more generously.

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Those words can also be an encouragement for us. Each time we choose love — in our homes, workplaces, and communities — we move closer to the kingdom of God.

Question to Ponder: How can I show love for God and for someone around me in a more concrete way today?

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler

Fr. Leo