The Greatest Commandment(s)

The Gospel readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, scheduled for October 24 and 25, address the relationship between loving God and loving others.

Maria Foss writes for On Mission that when a lawyer asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest, Jesus provides two rather than one. He first cites the prayer of Israel to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind. He then adds a second commandment that is like the first: to love one's neighbor as oneself.

Foss notes that Jesus binds these two commands together, making them inseparable. She observes that while loving an infinite God can feel inspiring, loving imperfect or difficult neighbors presents a greater challenge. This connection suggests that devotion to prayer or speaking about God is incomplete if it is not accompanied by kindness toward others.