Reading: Mark 12:28-34

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today's Gospel — we are used to it by now — Jesus is confronted by a scribe who tries to trap him. We see all the malice of people who claim to be pious and wise. And we also see Jesus' exemplarity love. He could escapes but no, he welcomes the dialogue with charity.

When the scribe asks Jesus which is the first of all the commandments, Jesus replies the commandment given to Moses: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart". And he adds a second commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". It is not written, but it is a summary of the Decalogue. Jesus did not come to abolish, but to fulfill God's Law. (Matthew 5:17)

So we know that the first commandment is to love God. Now let's look at the beautiful commandment Jesus gaves us. In his first letter, Saint John tells us: "Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them" (1 John 4:16). God is Love. So how can we love God if we do not love our brothers and sisters (1 John 4:20) ?

Jesus did not leave us without showing us the way. He expressly gave us the keys to living in God's love. He himself grave a great proof of love— he gave his life to save us and open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven. In this, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for those we love. (John 15:13)

Amen.

+ Most Reverend Francisco Juan Lopez