The Greatest Commandment
by Kelly Miyamura, Executive Coordinator of Hakuhia
Mark 12: 28-34 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask Him any more questions.
Todayʻs scripture passage is one of the most well known and frequently quoted passages of the Bible, where Jesus discloses to an earnestly seeking scribe, the greatest of all commandments. If you know Jesus, it is not surprising how the two most important commandments He responds with are about love, not at all about rules or the law (which is ironic given the scribes had identified approximately 613 laws in the Old Testament). Jesus essentially breaks down the two most fundamental truths to being His follower: That we love God with all that we are, surrendering to Him spiritually, mentally, and physically. And that this love is transformative, and should be extended to those in proximity to us in the same ways we would love and care for ourselves. The order is important; loving God comes first because loving others flows from loving God.
The commandments are a wonderful summary of passages deeply rooted in the Old Testament. However, Jesus’ interaction with the scribe illustrates that it is not just about having theological knowledge that counts, but actually living the commandments Jesus teaches us that is essential. We want to know God, not just know about Him. It is when we know Him, love Him, and live like Him that we experience the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Recently in my work with Hakuhia, the church’s new ministry to steward the 246 acres of ʻāina (land) at Koʻolau, I feel like Iʻm on a discipleship journey. We have the opportunity to make stronger and deeper connections with our local community of Koʻolaupoko, and be a part of cultivating shalom (the wholeness of God) in this place. The journey has led me to meet and have conversations with amazing, inspiring, and faithful leaders of our community. I have learned to see this passage in new ways of expression, through the practice of the four levels of aloha shared with me by Herb Lee, who stewards Waikalualoko Iʻa (fishpond) at the makai end of our ahupuaʻa in Kāneʻohe.
The four levels of aloha are: (the order is also important)
Aloha Mai ke Akua (Love from God)
Aloha I loko (The Love inside us of from God - manifested by the Holy Spirit within us)
Aloha Kekahi i kekahi (Love for one another)
Aloha 'Āina (Love for the land, also part of Godʻs creation, which nurtures us)
Simply put, Aloha mai, Aloha aku (it is all reciprocal and comes from God). This ultimately reflects the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself!
Prayer: Lord, We love You with all that we are. During this 40-Day Fast, make us powerful people of aloha, make us a church that overflows with aloha. Continue to teach us what that means, and all of the ways in which Your love manifests in this world to heal, transform, and bring the Kingdom of God here. Amen.
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