In that inimitable pop song the Beatles tell us, “All you need is love…,” but is that just a sentimental ideal? Don’t we need other things as well like food, homes, jobs, clothes, education and laws to make a happy and safe society?

In today’s gospel a lawyer employed by the Pharisees asks Jesus a question. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” It’s another ‘loaded’ question. The religious leaders had devised six hundred and thirteen commandments. If Jesus were to pick on one commandment as being more important than another then it would be to negate one of the other six hundred and twelve. But Jesus manages not to invalidate any one of the commandments. Rather, he chooses the commandment that underpins all the  others. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

It is difficult to think of a human situation that can’t be remedied by a mutual love. Love in this context is not the warm fuzzy feelings that come in a Valentines card, but a deep empathy and compassion for fellow human beings. “It’s easy…..” sing the Beatles. Well not at first perhaps… it’s sometimes difficult to even like the people we meet let alone love them. Love takes practice. Love is seeing the similarities between ourselves and not the differences. Loves sees that everyone wants the same things and needs the same things. Love starts by the little things we do for each other and gradually turns into a permanent state of being. Only then can we really claim to love God. We cannot claim to love God if we  dislike or have a deep disdain for those around us.

Love starts in the mind, so start thinking today and every day how best to love and serve our neighbours.

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart….

You must love your neighbour as yourself.’