Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel passage from Mark 12, we hear Jesus engaging in a series of conversations with various groups of people. He first speaks with the chief priests, scribes, and elders who challenge his authority, and then with a group of Pharisees who ask him about paying taxes to Caesar. Finally, he engages in a dialogue with a scribe who asks him which commandment is the greatest.

It is in this last conversation that we find the heart of Jesus’ message for us today. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord (Yahweh) 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 neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

In these two commandments, Jesus gives us the roadmap to true discipleship. He calls us to love God with all our being and to love our neighbours as ourselves. This love is not a mere sentiment or feeling, but a decision to act in accordance with God’s Will and to put others before ourselves.

To love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength means that we must give ourselves fully to Him. We must seek to know Him and to follow His commandments, putting aside our own desires and preferences in order to do His Will. This requires a daily commitment to prayer, study, and service, as well as a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. One way in which to give ourselves fully to God is to consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Likewise, to love our neighbour as ourselves means that we must see Christ in everyone we meet. We must be willing to listen to their needs, to comfort them in their sorrows, and to help them in their struggles. We must be willing to forgive, to reconcile, and to serve, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. We should make sure we are serving everyone as this is a way of giving glory to God. In this way we put our own will aside and out God’s Will first.

One example of putting God’s Will first can be found in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was born into a wealthy family and had plans to become a knight. However, after experiencing a profound spiritual conversion, he renounced his worldly possessions and dedicated his life to serving God.

St. Francis embraced a life of poverty and simplicity, choosing to live among the poor and to preach the Gospel to all who would listen. He is known for founding the original Franciscan order, which was known for serving the poor.

St. Francis’ example teaches us that putting our will aside to do God’s Will means letting go of our own plans and desires and allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. It means seeking to serve others rather than seeking our own comfort and security. And it means trusting that God’s plan for our lives is far greater than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves.

Brothers and sisters let us take to heart the words of Jesus and strive to love God and our neighbour with all our being. Let us pray for the grace to put aside our own desires and to seek God’s Will in all things. And let us be agents of His love in the world, serving those in need and proclaiming the Good News to all who will listen. May God bless us and keep us always in His love. Amen.

Fr. Charles