I often sit and re write my To Do List each morning. I take some satisfaction in being able to cross off the things done, and to then rewrite the list afresh with what I still need to do. It makes my life feel, at least a little bit, more ordered. When I write the new list, it tends to be with the most important, most urgent tasks at the top, or at least with an * asterisk next to the item. 

“Which is the greatest commandment?” asks a legal expert and pharisee in Matthew’s gospel this week. Another trick question perhaps, or maybe a genuine desire to prioritise? My suspicion is it might be the former given that ever-increasing traps that are being set in front of Jesus in order to have him arrested. 

When the Pharisee was asking this, I wonder if the list of laws that they had in mind were the 10 commandments. But the question and the answer Jesus gives could equally apply to any of the laws and religious customs that were required at the time, and indeed for us today. At the heart of this is that cry “What is my priority? “What’s the most important thing for me today?” or “What should be first on my To Do List?”

Jesus answer – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind” and “Love your neighbour as yourself” – In many ways these form the primary principles that Jesus gives to help us govern our lives and our decision making. It’s a much simpler conduit through which to check all things and yet it has a much sharper lens and effective depth than perhaps a 100 page rule book. It requires both self reflection and prayerful conversation to each individual decision over how we spend our time, energy and money. I doubt it was the answer that the Pharisee wanted. I suspect it was however the one that was needed. I certainly do.

Rev’d Lizze