Believe it or not, in high school I was part of the Chess Club. At first, I wouldn’t be caught dead in such a club, but I joined because a friend challenged me and said that I could never beat him in a game of chess. The competitive and rebellious part of me came out in full force, and I quickly became a fan of entrapping my opponents in the game. I would start by making a few irresponsible moves, allow my opponent to think they were in control, then unleash my hidden plan and win the game. However, once in a while, this strategy would tragically fail when a smarter opponent figured out my game plan. In this Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 22:34-40), we are given another example of how the religious leaders attempt to entrap Jesus through various tests and questions. This time they ask Jesus: “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Their game plan was to see if Jesus would name a single commandment – devaluing the others and making it seem as if he did not value the fullness of God’s word. Jesus responds: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then similarly: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

These two commandments of love are the foundation and hinges of our Christian faith. A door hangs on two hinges, but if one is out of alignment, it will not open properly or as easily. We are not called to pick and choose the commandments, moral teachings of the Church, or the people whom we find to be the greatest in our game plan for life. We are called to love God and our neighbor above all else, only then will the rest come into alignment as we open the door to a life with God.