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If your house was on fire and you only had time to save one thing, what would you save? We can tell a lot about what our priority is by our answer. Obviously, we would rush our families out of the house, but beyond that, what would you grab? I’ve heard people answer that they would grab their wedding albums or their baby books. Others may answer that they would grab important documents. Still others would probably say their phones or computers. What would you save? What is your priority?

In the gospel, Jesus is asked what is the priority of our spiritual lives. The question is about what law is the greatest. Jesus answers definitively, “You shall love the Lord, your God.” It really is as simple as that. Our priority is to love God. Jesus doesn’t say that we should “like” God or “appreciate” God. He commands us to love God.

When we use the word love we often mean affection or entertainment or delight, like, “I love ice cream,” or “I love dogs,” or “I love movies.” But when Jesus says love he means to desire what is best for the other person. The Church’s definition of love is putting the needs of another before our own, to put others before ourselves. When Jesus commands us to love God, he is telling us to put God’s will before out own. Simply, the greatest commandment is to put God’s will before our own will.

How much? Jesus says, “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all our mind.” What is our priority? To desire God’s will in our life. What is the greatest commandment? To make God the most important thing in our life each day.

I don’t know about you, but that is hard and I am not very good at it. So what should we do? Pray for God to change our hearts so that we desire it.

Live It:
Make the sign of the cross and say this prayer (if you mean it).
“God please change my heart so that I desire your will for my life. Help me to make you my number 1 priority.”