Friday of the Third Week of Lent
(Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34)
Jesus’ “first commandment” in today’s gospel originates
in the Book of Deuteronomy. It is taken
from a famous passage known by its first words, “Shema Yisrael” – “Hear, Israel”. The passage then dictates the
commandment that Jesus cites and concludes by saying that the words should hang
“as a pendant on your forehead.”
Probably the author never intended a literal pendant, only that Jews
would fix the command firmly in their minds.
But, as in many things religious, some fanatics started to wear headbands
with receptacles carrying the written words.
There is challenge enough with loving God with all our heart, soul,
mind, and strength.
To love God with all our heart means to love Him
unreservedly. We cannot love Him in this
way if we are going to love at the same time contrary things. We cannot love God and at the same time look
at pornography. The soul is the seat of
supernatural life. To love God with all
our soul is to love Him so that we may have the fullness of supernatural life
in heaven. It is to love Him by carrying
out His will that we forgive and assist others in need.
When we love God with all our mind, we take care to learn
more about Him. We read books and
magazines that help us understand His ways.
And when we love God with all our strength we make sacrifices for
Him. Our added prayer and fasting during
Lent are signs of a strong love for God.
