The Third Friday of Lent

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus is our teacher, but he is also our model as well. He does not just tell us what is right. He also does it. He shows us how to lead an authentic and holy life, the Life we are all called to aspire to and put into action. However, it is up to us to recognize the Truth that Jesus has spoken and to follow the Way he has laid out for us. When we do these things, we too become living sacrifices to God and loving neighbors to all.

Do we try to imitate Jesus in everything we do? Do we put Jesus’ words into action in our lives? Do we love God and our neighbors with all our hearts, minds, and strength?

O Lord, you are our teacher show us how to become living sacrifices.

Amen.