With all your heart

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Psalm 91

Keur Moussa

Today is Thursday the 4th of June, in the 9th week of Ordinary Time.

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Psalm 91: ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning, and your truth in the watches of the night.’ As you listen, can you bring your whole self before the God they speak of, the God present here with you, the source of all life, all love, all truth?

3:00

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

5:08

Hol

Keur Moussa

Begin today’s prayer by putting yourself into a situation similar to the one Jesus faces here. Someone comes up to you in the street with a microphone and says to you, “Tell me, in one sentence, the most important thing about your faith!” How do you respond?

Now listen to Jesus’s familiar answer. Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. You’ve probably heard this many times before. What particularly strikes you when you hear it today?

The scribe addresses Jesus as “Teacher”. Is this how you see Jesus, or is there some other word that best describes what he means to you?

As the passage is read again, notice what it tells you about the relationship between Jesus and this scribe.

8:29

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

10:19

“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” As this prayer draws to a close, talk with Jesus as he speaks these same words to you.

11:57

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen