In today's Gospel, we see the Pharisees trying to embarrass Jesus as He had just silenced the Sadducees. They were plotting against Jesus, how to entrap Him on what He might say or do. They were not able to get the better of Jesus and wanted to contradict and catch Jesus out. Jesus' reply to what the greatest commandment is, includes loving God with the whole heart, soul and mind, as well as loving the neighbour as the self. Jesus' reply was so comprehensive that there was no way the Pharisees could trap Him.

On these two commandments hung the whole Law of God. How do we love God and neighbour? By keeping the commandments of God and the Church and to perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church number 2447 states these works of mercy, among which Jesus had carried in His ministry like admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counselling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries, praying for the living and the dead. Ruth in the first reading reflected this vertical and horizontal relationship too. She remained by her mother-in-law Naomi's side, not thinking of herself, but of Naomi and providing her companionship. Ruth accepted and remained with Naomi's people and Naomi's God, loving God and neighbour.