The Whole Law
Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 22:34-40 - When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus tells the Pharisees who come to test Him that “the whole law and the prophets depend on” love—loving God and loving our neighbor. This combination of “the law and the prophets” was a simple way to sum up much of the faith of the Jews. The Torah (the law) and the books of the prophets were two major sections of the Jewish Scriptures. These two things also pointed toward Christ. We see this idea of the summing up of the law and the prophets at other times as well. For instance, at the Transfiguration, Moses (the law giver) and Elijah (the greatest prophet) appear and communicate with Christ.
It is a wonderfully simple truth that the whole of our Faith depends on love. God’s rules and Commandments are all about love. The message of the prophets is all about love. The New Testament is all about love. The Church is all about love. The Church’s teachings are all about love. The Church’s worship is all about love. The Church’s service is all about love. Everything Christians do is about love. If we ever have any motivation other than love for what we do, it will not be enough. We must live lives that are devoted to and dependent upon one thing—love.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
