Greatest Commandment - The Branches, October 27, 2026

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9)

October 27, 2026

Hello Everyone —

Some thoughts from last Sunday’s Gospel according to Matthew.

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Mt 22:34-36)

Did you notice what happened? If you read on in the Gospel, Jesus was asked only for the greatest commandment, but he goes on to give a second that “is like it.” This second commandment stands on equal footing and needs to be dealt with in an equally serious manner. Out of a group of commandments compiled in the Book of Leviticus (LV 19:17-19), Jesus focuses on one regulation: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus highlights it, underlines it, makes it bold on his computer and proclaims it as different from the others on the list. He places it on par with the first and greatest commandment.

An eight-year-old boy had a younger sister who was dying of leukemia. His parents explained to him that she needed a blood transfusion and that his blood was probably compatible. They asked if they could test his blood. “Sure,” he said. The results showed that his blood would be a good match. Then they asked if he would give his sister a pint of his blood, believing that it could be her only chance of remaining alive. He said he would have to think about it overnight.

The next day, he went to his parents and said he was willing to donate his blood to his sister. So, they took him to the hospital, where he was put on a gurney beside his sister. Both of them were hooked up to IVs. A nurse withdrew a pint of blood from the boy, which was then put into the girl’s IV. The boy lay on his gurney in silence while the blood dripped into his sister. The doctor came over to see how he was doing. The boy opened his eyes and asked, “How soon until I start to die?”

WOW! Out of the mouth of babes. This true story speaks tomes.

It has been said that every word of the Gospel comes down to love — love that is simple enough to articulate but so demanding that we shy away from it. The mystery of God’s love is the fact that the supreme and omnipotent Creator of all things should love His creation so completely and so selflessly. Not only that, but all that God seeks in return is that such love be shared by His people throughout the whole of creation.

The brother, thinking that giving his blood would mean he would die, is nonetheless willing to give his life to his sister so that she might live. In his generosity, he models the great love and compassion of the God who spares nothing to bring us home to Him.

May we seek to follow the great commandment of the Gospel — to love with the same selfless compassion, care and completeness of God.

As I do for you, please pray for me,

Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee