1.3
Jesus Exemplifies
the Law of Love

Which commandment in the
law is the greatest?
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The greatest commandment in the law is
the law of love – to love God and others.
“You shall love the Lord your god with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. The second is like it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. The
whole law and the prophets depend on
these two commandments” (Matthew 22:
37-40).

Which commandment in the
law is the greatest?
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Jesus Christ reveals to us:
The distinct yet inseparable love for
God and love for neighbor.
We are to love God and others with
our whole self.
The very meaning of each law –
love.

Which commandment in the
law is the greatest?
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Love is the source, summary of the
whole, and fulfillment of the law.
God is love. Every law must express
God’s love.

What is this New Law?
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The New Law is the law of love, the
law of grace, the law of freedom, the
law of the Gospel.
Law of love because it makes us act
out of the love infused by the Holy
Spirit, rather than from fear.

What is this New Law?
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Law of grace because it confers the
strength to act, by means of faith and the
sacraments.
Law of freedom because it sets us free from
the ritual and juridicial observance of the
Old Law, inclines us to act spontaneously by
the prompting of charity and, let us pass
from the condition of a servant who “does
not know what his master is doing” to that
of a friend (CCC 1972).

What are the ways to love
others?
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Love is shown through concrete
acts.
St. John wrote: “If anyone says,
’my love is fixed on God’ but
hates his brother, he is a liar” (1
John 4:20)

The Corporal Works of Mercy
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Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit those in prison
Visit the sick
Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy
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Instruct the ignorant
Admonish the sinner
Counsel the doubtful
Comfort the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive all injuries
Pray for the living and the dead