The Greatest Love of All

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-39

Russian Empress, Catherine the Great. P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman. Wayne Gretzky, The Great One. We label people ‘great’ when they are the most accomplished, most important, and the very best.  Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, so he quoted a well-known verse from the Hebrew Bible all about love. Christians and Jews share this commandment in common. In fact, the love of God, neighbour, and self is one of the greatest commandments for most world religions.

For Christians, the challenge has been how to show ‘great’ love in our everyday lives. What’s the point of embracing the greatest commandment, if we don’t live out that love in obvious and tangible ways? Love of God, neighbour, and ourselves is not meant to be hoarded and hidden, but it’s meant to be shown and given away. The true value of that love is seen when we support each other, encourage each other, challenge each other, and ultimately, share the greatest love of all with God, with our neighbour and with ourselves. Thanks be to God.