If we could only grasp the simplicity and the depth of this gospel passage we would have it all: Jesus explains the "great commandment of God." Jesus has the authority to explain it. Jesus has the power to make it effective for us!
When asked by the scribes what the "first of all the commandments" Jesus quotes the Jewish scriptures – in which he, a Jew, was well versed: "You shall love the Lord your God – with all you've got; you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. In effect he is saying the two commandments are really the same one commandment.
He is saying that loving God (the Father) is most important – but that since we cannot see God while living on this earth – loving neighbor as we love ourselves goes absolutely hand in hand with loving God. We demonstrate, we prove our love for God, by loving others as we love ourselves. This is the way God intended. This is the way God insists. This is what we will be judged on at the Last Day. "Did you demonstrate and prove your love for me by loving others as you loved yourself?"
It is scary when we look around at the society in which we live to see how far off the track a great many people are in this regard. We are not to judge those who are obviously missing the boat – but we are to pray for them – and by our example, give them something to imitate.
Unconditional care for everyone in sight is not an easy thing to do; neither is having utmost care and concern for oneself – self-respect, and self-esteem seem to be at all time lows in general.
But if we truly take to heart God's own message to us about how much he loves us with everything he's got – then it should give us every reason to have hope and to want to love him back immediately and to then first love our neighbor as we love ourselves as proof!
I am the Lord your God: hear my voice: I LOVE YOU!
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