Christ's Great Golden Triad to Guide Our Actions and Decisions

Christ’s theological and political enemies try, always try, to catch him out with multitudes of trick questions. Which is the greatest commandment in the law? they ask, craftily, ready to make a case for the one he does not choose.

And from the morass of the 613 commands in the Torah, Christ chooses just two. The great and first commandment, the megale and protos commandment, he says, is to love God, with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. Love God, because he, creator of the universe, and of you; lover of the world and of you; dream-giver, dream-granter, is worthy of our love. 

The second one is like it, love your neighbour as yourself; do unto others what you wish they would do unto you. Treat yourself gently; treat others gently. The entire law and the prophets hang on these two commandments, Jesus says. 

And Jesus models living these commandments--waking early, and slipping to lonely places to chat with his father; maintaining his physical, mental and spiritual health by hiking to be alone with God in deserts, by the River Jordan, on mountains, in gardens. And he loved people, sharing bread and wine he created by the power of faith, cooking fish for his friends, bringing healing through his presence, his words, and his wisdom.

A great golden triad on which to base our lives--love of God, of others, and of our own selves.

My memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India UK USA

Blog: anitamathias.com

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My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) and UK

Transcript

So, an expert in the Mosaic law, a Pharisee, tests Jesus: “Teacher, 

which is the greatest commandment in the law?” A mined field,

a trap, for the question implied: “And which of the 613 commands

in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, is less important?”

And Christ’s to-the-point, simple, incisive words distil the law’s

multitudinous “thou shalls” and “thou shalt nots,” into one radiant

word from the Torah, which bathes everything in golden light. Love. 

Love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all 

your mind, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy. This is the great and first, 

the megale and protos commandment, he says. For in worshipping God, 

our souls find surrender, peace, direction, and joy. A rightness!

But we live among people. And so, Jesus gave us a second

commandment, quoting an obscure versefrom Leviticus, “You shall

love your neighbour as yourself,” (he uses the koine Greek words, 

agape, generous concern, and plesion, those near or close by). Or,

 as Jesus puts it in his Golden Rule “In everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you” (which somehow seems

more doable!). On these two commandments, these two hinges 

of love, Jesus says, all the law and the prophets hang--a quarter 

of the Bible! And, indeed, our own lives and this world would 

be far sweeter if we treated others as we wish to be treated. So 

much dishonesty, sharp speech, and unkindness would be eliminated; 

we would not sow bitter seeds, and our harvests would be blessed.

And so, a golden triangle to guide our lives and decisions: Love

God first, for He, who created this universe and you, and who

Loves you, dream-giver, dream-granter, is worthy of your love. Love

yourself, treating yourself with kindness; don’t push or berate yourself

nor neglect your physical, spiritual, or mental health. And treat

people as gently and considerately as you would wish to be treated. 

This triangle is Jesus’ brilliant summary of the law and the prophets.

Love God as Jesus did, waking very early while it was still dark

to chat with his father; love yourself as Jesus loved himself, maintaining

his physical, spiritual and emotional strength through time alone, hiking

and praying in gardens, in the desert, by rivers, and on mountains. Love

people as Jesus did, sharing a plentiful meal he created from a few loaves, 

cooking fish for his disciples, bringing healing through his presence,

his faith, his words. This great golden triad is a compass for our lives.

 Love. Of God, of those close to us, and of our own selves. Amen.