Which commandment is the greatest?

“’Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’” (MT 22: 36-40)

Even if the motivation behind this question wasn’t good, Our Lord used this to remind us of the truth about the commandments and their hierarchy. First of all is “the Lord, our God” to whom we owe our hearts, souls and “all our mind,” but immediately after, as a natural consequence, follows “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Without protecting my own dignity, there is no respect for my neighbor, and without love for my neighbor, there is no real love for God.

“Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)