(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)
In the Gospel for this Sunday, a person comes to Jesus, wanting to know who God is. But he does not ask, "Who is God?" Instead, he asks,
“Which commandment is the first of all?”
A commandment is a way.
A commandment about walking, is the way we walk.
A commandment about talking, is the way we talk.
This person wants to know the way of God.
And Jesus says,
‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;
One God.
One God who is Lord.
What is the way of the One God who is Lord?
you shall love the Lord your God
The way of the Lord is love.
Hmm.
In the Holy Bible, we hear other things about the One God who is Lord. We hear,
"The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need."
The One God, who is Lord, is Shepherd.
One God, One Shepherd who takes care of his sheep.
What do sheep need?
The sheep of the One Shepherd have everything they need. Everything they need is given to them. This is how the Shepherd cares for the sheep—by giving them everything they need. How much the One Shepherd cares for his sheep!
Jesus is right. The way of the Lord is love.
This is how God loves—by giving everything.
We wonder, who loves more, the Shepherd or the sheep?
If the sheep want to love like the One Shepherd loves, how can they?
Jesus says,
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Love with all. Love with everything.
This is the way of God.
