synthesis of the lord's teachings 2

the gospel passage for march 4, 2016, friday of the 3rd week of lent, was from mark 12:28-34 "the greatest commandment of all!"

mark 12:28 "...'which is the first of all the commandments?'

ANALYSIS:

>613 commandments of the law (composed of 248 precepts and 365 prohibitions)

this was the historical context of the question of the scribe who intelligently asked this question from the lord!

the question was asking for a ...

SYNTHESIS:

A. old testament

other historical attempts to synthesize the lord's teachings in the old testament were:

i. david = 11 commandments (Psalm 15:2-5)

1. lead a BLAMELESS way of life
2. always do what is right
3. speak the TRUTH from the HEART
4. do not use your tongue for slander
5. do not wrong to your fellow
6. do not discredit your neighbor
7. do not look with contempt on the reprobate
8. honor those who fear yahweh
9. stand by your PLEDGE AT ANY COST
10. do not ask interest on loans
11. do not be bribed to victimize the innocent

ii. isaiah = 6 commandments (isaiah 33:15)

1. act with INTEGRITY
2. speak SINCERELY
3. reject extortionate profit
4. wave away bribe from your HANDS
5. shut suggestions of murder out of your EARS
6. close your EYES against crime

iii. micah = 3 (michal 6:8)

1. act JUSTLY
2. LOVE tenderly
3. walk HUMBLY with your god

(my comment: 1 & 2 = love neighbor [1 = masculine / tough love, 2 = feminine / tender love], 3 = love god)

B. new testament

i. jesus = 2 (mark 12:29-31)

1. love god
"Love Yahweh your God with all your hear, with all your soul, with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

2. love neighbor
"...Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).

concluding comment:

re: analysis and synthesis, this morning during my meditation time, the image of the wooden wheel again came:

ANALYSIS = movement away from the central idea (hub) to its component domains and specific items (spokes); CENTRIFUGAL force in physics

SYNTHESIS = movement away from the many details or facets (spokes) to the central idea/s (hub); CENTRIPETAL force in physics

acknowledgement: this centrifugal and centripetal force i got from my brother who is a priest in his homily on the feast of saints peter (the centripetal force of the catholic church because he shepherded the jews) and paul (the centrifugal force of the church because he was sent by the lord to be missionary to the non-jews or gentiles)