Wouldn’t it be great to have a straight-forward plan to follow Jesus right into heaven? I think that is what the scribe was asking for in chapter 12 of Mark’s Gospel when he asked Jesus which was the first of all the commandments. Considering that by Jesus’ time, the Jewish leaders had hundreds of laws on the books, the scribe’s question was probably his seeking overarching instructions on how to simplify everyday life. He just wanted to know the one thing he must do. Isn’t that how we are, too? Don’t we want a simple plan? “Jesus, just tell me what I have to do.” So, He does. He gives us the one thing we must do to enter heaven. Love. That’s it. Love. Love God and love your neighbor.
We know that love is a verb. It is action. It is the one thing we must do. To love God, we go to Mass, we participate in the Sacraments, we spend time in adoration, we read the scriptures, we pray, and we do for others. Jesus tells us in Mt. 25 that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.
Living stewardship gives us the perfect action plan. Stewardship is faith in action. It is doing for others in love and thanksgiving to God. As stewards, we receive God’s gifts gratefully, manage them to the best of our abilities, and return them with increase to the Lord. This returning them is our love in action. It is taking the gifts and blessings that God gives us and turning them into something beautiful by serving others, giving alms to help the poor, and helping our most vulnerable neighbors. Give time to the elderly. Give help to the young pregnant woman so that she can confidently choose life. Give money to supplement tuition for children in families of limited means. How else can you give?
Giving is loving. Give in love to your neighbors in need. Give in humble gratitude for God’s blessings.
Mark 12:28-31 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
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