Jesus states the core of God’s law: love God with all you are and have, and love your neighbor as yourself. The scribe agrees that Jesus has rightly identified the most important commandments, much more important than sacrifices. It’s easy for us to say with the writer of the letter to the Hebrews that sacrifices aren’t needed anymore; harder, though, to acknowledge that all our worship, all our community service, all our social action, all our family caregiving is worthless if it is done without love.

Prayer:

Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44

This Weeks Readings