"Worth More Than Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices"

One of the Scribes asked Jesus what the first of all commandments was, knowing himself the Shema, recited daily by pious Jews, even today:  Love of God with all one's heart and power, and love of neighbor as oneself. He also knew that keeping these two commandments was "worth more than bunt offerings and sacrifices" (Mk 12:33) because they demand the turning of heart and desire away from self to another, outside the self:  to God and neighbor.  This requires more that offering the body of even a choice calf or young bull on a fiery altar; it requires the sacrifice of something deep within our core. There's nothing we cling to more than our will, our being in control, our ego, the Me, Me, Me we want to promote. There is pain, and humility that come with  turning from self-love, a self-centered, selfish love, to an "other-centered" love,  one that purifies, that empties, so that the ensuing cavern can be filled with the all-satisfying love that God gives with great abundance.  We prove our love for God by reaching out to our neighbor...or do we love God first and so happy and filled are we, that our love overflows into a selfless love of neighbor?   Either way, we cannot have one without the other.
Bro. Rene