by Microfidelity 
It is important to note that the israelites have about 613 laws together with the ten commandments. All found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Furthermore, these laws are multiplied in various ways through the interpretation of the teachers of these laws, namely; the priests, elders of the people, and the scribes.
However, in our gospel text of today, Jesus addresses the multiplicity of these commandments and narrows it down to the love of God and the love of the neighbour.
This is found in His response to the question about which of the 613 commandments is the greatest. And He answered thus;
“… love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these…”
From Jesus’s response to this question, He established the commandment of Love as the ultimate for to Love “is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Jesus simplified these laws to correct our erroneous conceptions concerning the laws of God since many of us think that there are so many laws to be obeyed.
More so, it is important not to see these laws as merely laws, but necessary measures towards building a healthy society since love does not permit one to hurt another but instil in us the disposition to attend to the need of one another
In this way, the chaos and hatred and unhealthy competition we see in our society resulted from a lack of the practice of genuine love, and if love abide, it will be a different story.
We pray that God may bestow upon us the grace to help us love Him and our neighbours as ourselves. Amen!
Peace be with you 
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