Episode Details

Friday 13 March 2026

Today is Friday the 13th of March, in the third week of Lent. Paul Zach with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘The Greatest Commandment’. Love the Lord your God With all your heart and soul and mind And love your neighbour as yourself Love the Lord your God With all your heart and soul and mind And love your neighbour as yourself Let us be known, let us be known By the way we love Let us be known, let us be known By the way we love Love the Lord your God With all your heart and soul and mind And love your neighbour as yourself Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is love Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark. Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that [Jesus] answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. Following today’s reading, we are going to meditate on Jesus’ words given in answer to the scribe, with these first two commandments. There will be a short pause after each line to give you space to sit with His words. Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart And with all your soul And with all your mind And with all your strength. The second commandment is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. Which of these lines is the easiest to relate to? Which is the most challenging? The Scribe’s response to Jesus was, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”;  and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”, - this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’  End your time of prayer today, by responding to Jesus in your own words. You have given all to me To you, Lord, I return it Everything is Yours Do with it what You will Give me only Your love and Your grace That is enough for me Amen