Dear Ms,
This is what the Gospel of Matthew says: “Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’”
What He is saying is NOT that ONLY these two matter, but that they are the most important and under-lie all the rest. ALL the other requirements matter precisely BECAUSE these do!
The Gospels speak of many, many things that are required of us. “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross every day and follow me. (Luke 9:23).” Regarding marriage He said: “…what God has united, man must not divide. (Mark 9:34)”. He said the we must be baptized: “I tell you solemnly, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:5).”
There are many, many other requirements I could quote from Scripture, but these should suffice to demonstrate how simplistic and unfounded your friend’s statement really is!
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
