Nearing the end of his incredible life, Moses was passing out some big-time wisdom. You might expect him to say, “Follow the commandments!” and leave it at that. He had, though, some other, and surprising, things to say.

Is it really so hard to figure God out? So many books have been written about scripture, ecclesiology, liturgy, and theology in general that we might almost despair of ever getting the God-Quest right. If religious understanding is dependent on reading everything in the average parish library, we’re sunk.

EACH MORNING when we scan or listen to the news, we expect to hear something sad. Suffering and crisis take prominence in our news stories, while stories that talk about heroism or share a personal story of compassion are rare.

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

At the heart of the law is total commitment to loving God and neighbor and doing the acts mercy that grow out of that love. “Do this,” said Jesus, “and you will live.”

What would happen if you and a whole bunch of other people really took to heart these words of scripture: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”?

The commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," is the strongest defense against human aggressiveness. —Sigmund Freud