The Great and Foremost Commandment

St. Peter’s Square erupted with thunderous cheers from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. White smoke billowed far above their heads, signaling that the two hundred and sixty-seventh leader of the Roman Catholic Church had been elected. Social media, cable news outlets, and family group chats joined in the excitement, proclaiming, “There is white smoke!” I think it is a fair assumption that most people, whether they practice Catholicism or not, understand the significance of the white smoke.

An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics look to the Pope for spiritual leadership. Millions of others, who may or may not profess membership in any Christian denomination, want him to take a political side. In doing so, they are not specifically seeking God, but instead a “win” for their side of the issue. Mere minutes after the announcement of Pope Leo XIV, Google and social media searches surged as those keeping score sought evidence of the then Cardinal’s beliefs.

And so began a flurry of Tweets and Retweets like “The Holy Father slammed a certain politician! He is on our side.”  Or. “The Pope does not speak for me.”  The polarized public found what they were looking for: justification to hold onto their individual ideology.

As a believer, I found it curious that millions of people spent hours scouring social media for “truth” when all they had to do was open the Bible for God’s Holy inspired word. 

Yet, the sad reality is that many hold individual ideologies in their hearts, and God’s word is far from them. Those who desire truth, though, look no further than John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

The way, truth, and life of following Jesus is not what the world desires, but it is what the world needs. This generation, like those that came before us, refuses to accept the truth in Matthew 22:37-40, And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.”

Jesus spoke these words to a lawyer who sought to justify his ideology, much like those who seek out the Papacy to agree with their worldview. Jesus knew what the lawyer held in his heart. He tried to trick Him into contradicting the law. More than that, he wanted to distort God’s word to appease his flesh and his desire to disobey. Jesus’ response to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind is not what the lawyer wanted to hear.

To understand and follow this great and foremost commandment, believers must seek to live a righteous life. When we live righteously in Christ, we no longer desire to conform to the world by taking sides or following the wicked ways of politicians. God’s Holy, infallible word provides all the answers needed to direct our lives.

Philippians 4:8-9 beautifully summarizes how to live righteously, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace be with you.”

May God keep you and bless you,

Tika