Test

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Test

Greatest     Commandment

Heart     Soul     Mind

Love God Neighbor Self

Believe

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture: Matthew 22:36 to 39

A scholar of the law asked Jesus, "Which is the greatest commandment of the law?"

Jesus said, "You shall love God with your whole heart, soul, and mind. This commandment is the greatest and the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself."

Reflection

Jesus sums up the spiritual life for us in this passage from Matthew. Love God and love your neighbor.

It sounds so simple. Why is it such a challenge for us and why has it been so difficult for humanity throughout history?

When we look back and study our past, we see so much war, division, slavery, abuse, cruelty, famine, and so many examples of people not loving one another. We are tempted to ask why people do not follow the simple and clear teaching of Jesus.

How can we ever think that killing someone or exploiting our neighbors is an at of love? We all try to pass the "test" to establish a world that is a just and a fair world for all. We want a world where everyone has an opportunity to flourish and the dignity of each person is respected.

We want everyone to be fed, housed, and clothed. We know that is possible if we show that we love God by loving our neighbor. The words of The First Letter of John (Chapter 4, verse 20) echo in our hearts: "If anyone says,'I love God', but hates his sister or brother, she or he is a liar."

Our test is clear. We are called to love each person we meet and to work diligently to make the lives of all people in our world better so that all will thrive.

To "pass" this test, we have to overcome any selfishness and self-centeredness that might exist within our hearts and ask Jesus for the grace to become more loving and caring.

The teaching of Jesus sounds so simple. It is the daily living out of that teaching that becomes a challenge for all of us.

Bring on the test!

1. Do you find the teaching of Jesus in this passage simple?

2. Why do you think that this teaching of Jesus has been so difficult for people to follow throughout history?

3. What type of world do you want to see?

4. How are you trying to pass the "test"?

5. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)