And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And 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.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 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, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:28-34
Today we are on a trip to Philadelphia. I am speaking at a conference of Women and Girls in the Diocese and will see many old friends there. After that we will go on to Cape May Point for a long overdue visit with my mother. My mother turned 88 two weeks ago and I am finally able to get away to see her. My life has been full of long rides and day trips, cross continental journeys and visits over the oceans. There is always something new to learn, an old friend to meet, and another opportunity to live the love we have been given. Following Jesus is never a straight road for me, but it is always full of pleasant surprises and love renewed along the way.
Today and this weekend I ask God to help me simply follow the first commandments - loving God and neighbor. I ask for strength to forgive and overlook, to see love with new eyes and new potential in everyone. May we all follow Jesus, whatever our road might be, by seeking to love God and love others with every breath we take.
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