"Higugmaon Mo Ang Dios Sa Bug-os Mo Nga Tagipusuon Kag Ang Imo Kapareho Pareho Sang Imo Kaugalingon"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 22:34-40)

Pagkabati sang mga Pariseo nga ang mga Saduceo wala gid sing may mahimo kay Jesus, nagtipon sila liwat kag nagpalapit sa iya.

Isa sang mga manunudlo sang Kasuguan ang nagpamangkot kay Jesus sa pagdakop-dakop sa iya.

Siling niya, "Manunudlo, ano gid bala ang labing importante nga sugo sa Kasuguan?"

Nagsabat si Jesus sa iya, " 'Higugmaon mo ang Ginoo nga imo Dios sa bug-os mo nga tagipusuon, sa bug-os mo nga kalag, kag sa bug-os mo nga hunahuna.'

Amo ini ang labing importante nga sugo sa tanan.

Kag ang madason nga labing importante kaangay man sini, 'Higugmaon mo ang imo kapareho pareho sang paghigugma mo sa imo kaugalingon.'

Ang tanan nga kasuguan nga ginsulat ni Moises kag sang mga propeta napasad sa sining duha ka sugo."

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Meditation: 

What is the purpose of God's law and commandments? The Pharisees prided themselves in the knowledge of the law of Moses and the ritual requirements of the law. They made it a life-time practice to study the 613 precepts of the Torah – the books of the Old Testament containing the Law of Moses – along with the numerous rabbinic commentaries on the law. The religious authorities tested Jesus to see if he correctly understood the law as they did. Jesus startled them with his profound simplicity and mastery of the law of God and its purpose. Jesus summarized the whole of the law in two great commandments found in Deuteronomy  6:5 – "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" – and Leviticus 19:18 –  "you shall love your neighbor as yourself". 

What does God require of us? Simply that we love as he loves! God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us. God loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding grace and kindness towards us. The love of God comes first and the love of neighbor is firmly grounded in the love of God. The more we know of God's love and truth the more we love what he loves and reject what is hateful and contrary to his will. 

What makes our love for God and his commands grow in us? Faith in God and hope in his promises strengthens us in the love of God. They are essential for a good relationship with God, for being united with him. The more we know of God the more we love him and the more we love him the greater we believe and hope in his promises. The Lord Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, gives us a new freedom to love as he loves. Do you allow anything to keep you from the love of God and the joy of serving others with a generous heart? Paul the Apostle says: hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us (Romans 5:5). Do you know the love which conquers all? 

"Lord Jesus, your love surpasses all. Flood my heart with your love and increase my faith and hope in your promises. Help me to give myself in generous service to others as you have so generously given yourself to me."