A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Thursday of the ninth week in ordinary time.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart,

Jesus, I trust in you. You take over. Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel, according to Mark and put a question to him, which is the first of all the commandments.

Jesus replied, this is the first. Listen, Israel.

The Lord your 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 neighbor 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 neighbor 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 anymore.

What word made this passage come alive for you?

...