Daily Catholic Lectio
Fri, 21 Aug 2026
XX Week in Ordinary Time
Eze 37:1-14. Mt 22:34-40
Greatest Commandment
In today’s first reading, Ezekiel sees the vision of the valley of dry bones. The Lord God gives form to the dry bones and gives them life. This vision is a sign that the people who were in Babylonian slavery will receive new life again.
The first dialogue in this vision draws our attention. The bones were very dry. The Lord asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “Lord God, you know.”
Ezekiel is aware of human limitations. To the question, “Can this happen?” he does not answer “yes” or “no.” He answers from the awareness that the Lord knows all that happens and all that He does. Therefore, he says, “You know.”
In this answer of the prophet, we see his faith in the Lord, his hope, and at the same time his humility. Many times, we worry about things that are beyond our study, beyond our control, and beyond our knowledge. We destroy ourselves by carrying questions that we cannot answer. When we face difficult questions in life, and when situations stand against us, it is good to surrender and say, “Lord God, you know.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus places the commandments in their proper order.
Through Moses, the Lord God gave the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. In the course of time, many other laws, rules, and practices came into use. In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees had developed 613 laws. In this background, a question is asked to Jesus: “Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?” This question is asked to test the knowledge of Jesus as a Rabbi and teacher of the Law.
Jesus quotes the first commandment found in Deuteronomy 6:4: love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Then He also gives the commandment of love of neighbour found in Leviticus 19:18. He says that the second is like the first.
Thus, Jesus teaches that the two commandments, love of God and love of neighbour, are the greatest. They stand together.
Sometimes, we understand this in a narrow way and say, “Through love of neighbour, we reach love of God.” But we need not use love of neighbour as a tool to reach God. Love of neighbour must remain centred on the neighbour. We must love God for God’s sake, and we must love the neighbour for the neighbour’s sake.
The dry bones in the first reading receive life because God gives His spirit. Our hearts also become dry when love disappears. A life without love of God becomes empty. A life without love of neighbour becomes hard. The greatest commandment gives life again to dry hearts.
Today we also remember Pope Saint Pius X. He is called the Pope of the Eucharist. He encouraged children to receive Holy Communion. Through the Eucharist, he wanted the faithful to come close to Jesus with simple hearts.
The greatest commandment is not merely to know more laws. It is to love rightly. When we do not know what will happen, let us say with Ezekiel, “Lord God, you know.” When we ask how to live, let us listen to Jesus: love God and love your neighbour.
Faith surrenders to God. Love opens itself to the other. Where faith and love come together, dry bones begin to live again.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
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