Today's Gospel recounts the question of the Scribe, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" (Mk 12: 28). Jesus gives the reply so familiar to us all, that we barely give it a thought: love of God, love or neighbor as our self. In today's world, who is our neighbor? The people who think like us or share the same values? Those who are killing Christians in the mid-East? The Terrorists who lurk around the globe, maybe even in our own neighborhood? It can get very complicated.
And loving them as we love ourselves: how do we love ourselves? Do we treat ourselves with respect, with timely rest and rejuvenation, or are we always pushing one step further. A retreat director wrote that often the people coming for retreat are so worn out from their service to others that they need the first part of the retreat just to catch up on sleep before going any further. Is this loving ourselves?
The answers to these questions are as challenging as they are elusive, but today would be as good a time as any to begin to sort them out. Jesus, help me to see clearly how to love you about all and my neighbor as myself. Give me honesty, courage, and the strength of your grace and let me learn again that "what is impossible for human beings is possible for you." (Lk 18:27)
Bro. Rene
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