Walking In Peace

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This week’s Gospel has Jesus answer the question as to the great commandment or the Shema. The Shema, Deut. 6:4-5 as we read in the first reading and as Jesus recited in the Gospel, was greatest among the 613 precepts of the Old Testament law. This question given to Jesus from one of the scribes was a common one proposed to Jewish teachers.

The answer given by Jesus was an illustration of how He had a fondness for going to the root of things. 

A pious adult Jew would have recited the Shema twice daily at prayer and with children before they went to bed. All Jews would hope to recite the Shema at the hour of their death.

The second part of Jesus’ reply comes from Lev. 19:18, to love your neighbor as yourself. You might not be far from the kingdom yourself if you take these to heart.