FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD
MARCH 17, 2023
THIRD FRIDAY OF LENT
WORD of the DAY
One of the scribes came to
Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus
replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12: 28b-31)
“How shall I live this Word? 
Here a scribe approaches Jesus. The scribes were the infallible magisterium of the time, the only ones authorized to interpret the law and ask Jesus a question which he knew very well how to answer. But he was interested in knowing what was the most important commandment for Jesus, because for them it was the Sabbath rest, but by not respecting it, Jesus aroused perplexity. Jesus does not respond by quoting commandments, but by enunciating the profession of faith of the people of Israel: absolute love for God and love for each other. Faith is lived as love. God must be sought with the heart, Jesus tells us! Then let us ask ourselves how much our encounter with Jesus takes up our whole life: affections, feelings, thoughts, reasoning, corporality! Encountering Jesus in this way, will push us to serve our brothers and sisters. Indeed, it will be the love with which God loves us that will make us capable of loving Him and our neighbor.
May the blood of your cross Lord, the gift of Your love, purify us and make us brothers and sisters!
The Voice of Pope Francis Gaudete et exsultate (163)
The development of good, spiritual maturation, and the growth of love are the best counterweights to evil.
E-mail: srmterzo@gmail.com Website: www.sanbiagio.org info@sanbiagio.org Blog: livingscripture.wordpress.com Comment by Sr. Monica Gianoli, FMA
