Mark 12,28b-34

March 17, 2023 (Friday)
Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mark 12,28b-34
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Reflection:
In response to the question of priority of all the 613 commandments governing the Jewish religious practices, Jesus points out to two important aspects: acknowledging God above all creation and loving and obeying Him with one’s whole heart and soul; secondly to love the neighbour equal to oneself. Thus, Jesus brought a new twist to the interpretation of the basic ten commands and all other rules and regulations arising out of the basic commandments. As the Letter of James says, we cannot say we love God while hating our brother or neglecting the needs of others. Loving others is how, on a specific level, we love God. Significantly, the most important commandment is not to believe something with our intellect, but to commit our lives to a way of living out God’s will. Love of God cannot be separated from the love of neighbor and that both together are what constitute true worship of God. Love for the neighbor is not an emotion. It is a commitment of respect and caring. It means confronting one’s neighbor in a constructive way when there is harm or offense so that hatred and revenge and grudges do not result. Love does not mean “like.” Love means to act in a constructive way. When one acknowledges and implements the constitutive nature of the love of God and the neighbor, he is not far from the kingdom of God. “Are you united with your Brothers? Do you always speak to them and treat them charitably? Do you ever listen to your antipathies and repugnances? You should remember that the members of a community should be animated with the same sentiments as the first Christians, who had but “one heart and one soul.” (DLS Med 113/02)

Lasallian Guiding Principle:
LGP states that, “Lasallian institutions must strive to develop among its members greater recognition of the realities of human suffering and the stewardship role that each share in preserving the integrity of God’s creation and creating a humane and just society.” Our Lasallian Education is marked by faith, zeal, and compassion and commitment to serve all, especially the less privileged. The challenge now among Lasallians is to witness through their lives, the unconditional, forgiving and life-saving love of God. Like Jesus, let us be “the way, truth and the life” for others.

Prayer:
Synod on Synodality Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, Make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sources:
C. (n.d.). Daily Gospel. Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://dailygospel.org/M/AM/DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU IRPA. (n.d.). Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family.
Retrieved June 22, 2020, from http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/inside/lasallian-guiding-principles/default.asp

Prepared by Pratik, Sati D., College of Humanities and Sciences- BS Biochemistry Student, through the DLSMHSI Lasallian Mission and Linkages and Advancement, Campus Ministry, and Chaplaincy

Our Daily Lasallian Gospel, Prayer and Reflection is a DLSMHSI gift to the Lasallian family for the 2019 Celebration of the Year of Vocation and the Tercentenary celebration of the death of our founder SJBDLS.
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https://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/daily-lasallian-reflection-prayer #300LaSalle