Read Mark 12:28-34 with your family.

Jesus was asked a lot of questions, but the only questions he answered were from people who truly wanted to know what Jesus was teaching about God’s world.

When asked about the greatest commandments, Jesus replied by quoting two verses found in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament). First was loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-6, and for our Jewish siblings, this is called the “Shema”, something they say every morning when they get up and at night when they go to bed.

The second was to love our neighbour as ourselves, which is found in Leviticus 19:18.

Most people don’t realize Jesus is saying three things, not just two. Love God is plain, love our neighbours makes sense, but Jesus is also saying that we much love ourselves.

How will be ever be able to love other people if we don’t love ourselves first?

God wants us to feel good about our choices and our talents, and wants us to respect and like ourselves. In a world that is constantly telling everyone from children to seniors that we are not good enough, it is a radical idea to realize we are enough and worthy of the love of God and our neighbours, but also ourselves.