Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, March 22, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Way to boil it down, Jesus. No, really. I seriously appreciate it. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of trying to get things “right” any time we’re dealing with other people. People are complicated. Situations are nuanced. Circumstances are changeable. It can feel impossible sometimes to know how to handle challenges at any level of our lives.
Jesus simplifies it here. Does a particular course of action demonstrate love for God and for neighbor? If so, it’s a good bet.
That doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing. Just because you’re behaving in a loving way doesn’t guarantee anyone else will. In fact, as anyone working tirelessly for social justice will tell you, acting on behalf of our neighbors is often met with strident and even violent resistance.
But regardless of how it’s received, striving to follow the greatest commandment in all your dealings is a spiritual practice that brings something positive into the world.
How can I apply the greatest commandment to my daily life?
