“A scribe comes to Jesus and asks a very important question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
In other words, he is asking: Lord, among all the things we do in religion, what truly matters most?
Jesus answers very clearly: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is the heart of our faith.
Then Jesus says something very striking. He says that this love is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
In other words, God is not only looking at our religious practices. He is looking at our hearts.
This is a beautiful reminder for us during Lent.
During Lent, many of us try to be more religious.
We pray more.
We fast.
We attend Mass more often.
We give alms to the poor.
All these are very good.
But Jesus reminds us today that the purpose of these practices is not just to make us more religious, but to make us more loving.
You can fast from meat on Fridays, but still be angry with someone.
You can pray many rosaries, but still refuse to forgive.
You can attend Mass every day, but still be impatient with your family.
When that happens, something is missing.
Because the real question during Lent is not only: “What am I giving up?”
The deeper question is: “Am I growing in love?”
Am I becoming more patient?
More understanding?
More forgiving?
More generous?
Because the true sign that we love God is seen in the way we treat other people.
St. John tells us very clearly: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 Jn 4:20).
Sometimes, the most difficult neighbor to love is not the stranger outside.
Sometimes it is the person inside our own home — a spouse, a parent, a sibling, or a child.
That is why the best place to begin living this Gospel is in our families.
Speak more kindly.
Be slower to anger.
Be quicker to forgive.
Learn to say “thank you.”
Learn to say “sorry.”
Learn to say “I appreciate you.”
These small acts of love make our homes warmer and our faith more real.
At the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells the scribe something very beautiful: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
My dear brothers and sisters, this Lent, may the same be said about us.
If our prayer leads us to love God more, and if our love for God makes us kinder, more patient, and more forgiving, then we are truly walking toward the Kingdom of God.”