The Two Great Commandments

When a Pharisee asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36), His answer was simple yet profound: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). These two commands aren’t just rules—they’re the essence of our faith, a call to love fully and freely. But what do they mean for us today? Let’s break them down.

1. Loving God with All You Are

The first commandment, rooted in Deuteronomy 6:5, demands everything we’ve got—heart, soul, and mind. It’s a love that’s total, not piecemeal.

• Heart: This is your emotional core, where passion and affection live. Loving God with your heart means delighting in Him—feeling gratitude in prayer, awe at Mass, or comfort in His presence.
• Soul: Your spiritual essence, the eternal “you.” Loving God with your soul is dedicating your deepest self to Him, aligning your will with His through the sacraments and daily surrender.
• Mind: Your intellect and reason. Loving God with your mind means seeking Him through Scripture, grappling with theology, or marveling at His creation with curiosity and wonder.

Think of it as a symphony: your heart sings, your soul harmonizes, and your mind conducts. Practically, this might look like starting your day with a heartfelt prayer, offering your work to God, and pondering a Gospel verse before bed. It’s loving God with every fiber of your being.

 

2. Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

The second commandment flows from the first. Jesus ties them together, saying, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40). Loving your neighbor isn’t optional—it’s how we prove our love for God (1 John 4:20). But who is our neighbor? The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) answers: anyone in need, friend or stranger.

• As Yourself: This assumes a healthy self-love—not vanity, but recognizing your dignity as God’s creation. You care for yourself with food, rest, and kindness; your neighbor deserves the same.
• In Action: It’s the smile to a coworker, the meal for a struggling friend, or the patience with a difficult family member. It’s also the bigger stuff—advocating for the poor, forgiving an enemy, or standing for justice.

St. Teresa of Calcutta put it perfectly: “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing.” Small acts with great love count.

The Inseparable Link

These commandments aren’t separate silos—they’re two sides of one coin. Loving God fuels our love for others; loving others reflects our love for God. When we adore God in the Eucharist, we’re moved to feed the hungry. When we serve a neighbor, we honor the God who made them. It’s a cycle of grace. Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Deus Caritas Est, “Love of God and love of neighbor are thus inseparable… a single commandment.”

Living It Out

So, how do we live this? Start small but intentional:

• For God: Spend five minutes in prayer (heart), offer a task to Him (soul), and read a Catechism paragraph (mind).
• For Neighbor: Compliment someone, listen without interrupting, or donate to a cause.

Try this today: look at your schedule. Where can you fit love for God? Where can you show it to someone else? Maybe it’s a “thank You, Lord” in traffic or a kind word to a cashier.

A Call to Love

The Two Great Commandments aren’t burdens—they’re invitations to share in God’s own life, a Trinity of love. As St. Augustine said, “Love, and do what you will”—because true love, for God and neighbor, always leads us right.

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