Luke 10:25-28

Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.

Read Luke 10:25-28 imagining the scene as it unfolds.

The story of Jesus’ conversation with the expert in religious law appears in three of the Gospels, but each Gospel author offers a slightly different perspective. Matthew portrays the situation as a “trap” while Mark observes the sincere curiosity of the religious expert. In Luke’s Gospel, it is Jesus who asks the expert about the greatest commandment in response his “test” question about eternal life.

The man answers Jesus by quoting the Shema – the prayer that forms the foundation of the Jewish faith: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).” And he shows an even greater depth of understanding by adding a second command, “…love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18).”

Stop for a moment to focus in on the opening words of the Shema: “Listen [hear], O Israel.” Get quiet and repeat these opening words replacing “Israel” with your name.

Then widen the circle and repeat the prayer replacing “Israel” with the faith community, or church, with whom you identify. Now listen to Jesus and take note of anything that comes to mind.

Read Luke 10:25-28 again.

The two commandments recited by the religious expert are intertwined, because one can’t be a reality if the other isn’t. If you love God with your whole being - soul, strength and mind - you will love other people, who are created in the image of God, “as yourself.” And in loving your neighbor, you are living out your love for God.

Jesus will go on to flip the script on the expert’s interpretation of the word “neighbor,” and we’ll contemplate that part of the story tomorrow. But for today take some time to meditate on these two greatest commandments upon which all the Older Testament commands, laws and prophecies rest.

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.”

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Now imagine that Jesus is speaking the following words to you:

“Do this and you will live!”

What might Jesus want you to remember or do today?

How do you plan to respond?

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