Gospel in Art: Which is the first of all the commandments?

The Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, and Creed, by Thomas Hunter, 1759 © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 3 November 2024
Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?' Jesus replied, 'This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.' The scribe said to him, 'Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.' Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared to question him any more.

Reflection on the patchwork panel

We live in a world filled with competing demands on our attention, and it can feel overwhelming, particularly with the rise of digital communication. Prioritising what matters most is essential in the face of so many distractions. This need to prioritise is not new; it is at the heart of today's gospel reading. A scribe asks Jesus which of the more than 600 commandments in Jewish Law is the most important. Jesus responds decisively: the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We don't often think of love as a commandment, as it is commonly viewed as a feeling or emotion. Yet, in Jewish tradition and for Jesus, love is commanded because it is about action! Love is a way of life.

However, Jesus goes further than answering the scribe's question. He adds the second most important commandment: to love our neighbour. He reveals that these two commandments are inseparable. The command to love our neighbour, like the command to love God, is not about emotions but about actions that prioritise the well-being of others over our own. Jesus shows that loving God means being drawn into God's love for all humanity. If we love God with our whole being, we are then called to express that love through how we treat others.

Our artwork today is an unusual patchwork of cut vellum sections and embroidery on green silk, executed in 1759. It depicts the Ten Commandments, the Our Father, and the Creed, the foundational commandments to our Christian faith. The Ten Commandments provide a moral framework, outlining how we should relate to God and to others. The Lord's Prayer, taught by Jesus, is the model of how to pray, encompassing praise, petition, and a request for forgiveness. The Creed summarises the core beliefs of Christianity-faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit-reminding us of the foundational truths we profess. Together, these three elements-moral law, prayer, and belief-shape the way Christians are called to live.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-12-28-34-2024-3/