Daily Gospel Reflection for August 20, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

When I Googled how many commandments the Jewish people followed in their Torah, at the time when Jesus was living, the answer was 613! That is a lot! No wonder they wanted to know from this wise teacher what He thought was the most important one to follow since they had too many to keep up with.

Jesus could’ve picked one, or gone back to the original Ten Commandments given to Moses many generations prior. Instead, He combined them all into 2 terrific rules that encompassed them all.

For if you love God with your whole being, everything you do will please Him and fulfill the other laws. If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you will please God while serving Him by treating others as He would want you to. “On these two commandments hang all the Law,” and sure makes it easier than trying to remember 613 of them.

To love is to want the best for the other person. If we strive to truly want the best and treat everyone as if they were the face of Jesus, like St. Teresa of Kolkata, that would be the best way to fulfill both of these great commands. The ideal way to accomplish this is to know Jesus, to appreciate His love and mercy, then to want to serve Him through others.

Ponder:

How can I show God today that I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul?

Pray:

Loving Father, thank You for giving us Your commandments to show us what is expected of us as Your children. Help me to do my best to love You and love those around me with all that I am. Amen.