The Greatest Commandment to Love

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Sammi Bickerdt, MDiv, MTS

LGBTQIA+ Person of Faith

Quote

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.’”

~Matthew 22:37-38

Devotion

When I reflect on being a Queer person in this world, there is something so inherently simple I feel when I consider the notion of Queerness. I feel a deep resonance in my mind, body, and spirit when I dwell in the understanding of my expansive existence. Yet, such an inherently simple concept is greatly challenged when put into practice in this world. I think to myself, it should be so simple to be able to exist authentically and wholly as myself. But, in reality, living a wholly authentic existence with a fluid gender and sexuality is not easy. In fact, it’s historically dangerous. Throughout history, those that present an idea or perform outside of the expectations of the ruling class are often seen as a threat and fear of those identities lead to violent acts. Offering a way of existing outside of the established norms shakes up an order and challenges us to think, “maybe I don’t have to live within the boundaries set for me, but I could live within a realm of liberated being that embodies my authentic self.” Yet not all are ready to receive this thought, and some in an act of fear retreat back into the perceived safety of the boundaries they were given in order to hold onto a sense of security that feels threatened by freedom.

When religious officials approach Jesus asking, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replies with what sounds like a pretty clear and understandable response. The concept of loving God with our heart, soul, and mind seems pretty innate on first thought. Yet, when we begin to consider the ways in which we would need to put into practice this commandment we begin to stumble into the ways in which it challenges us to move beyond the socially established boundaries that are not aligned with this commandment. Jesus is offering us a way of life that invites us to live wholly in love: heart, soul, and mind. To practice a life in which we wholly love God is to move beyond the boundaries of this world into a fully divine and beloved one. To practice a life of love that calls out the harm and violence enacted on those deemed “unworthy” or “unvalued” in society. To practice resistance against any systems or authority that claims that love should look a particular way because to love God with heart, spirit and mind is to recognize God’s expansive love for all of creation.

In my experience, to live a Queer life is to follow this great commandment. Living a life of fluid existence that allows me to freely love in ways that allow me to express my divine and beloved self in connection with the rest of the divine and beloved. To follow this great commandment is to live into love and turn away from harm. When we live holistically in the love of God, we live an expansive life that honors all that we are.

Reflection

1.    What are ways you practice living out the commandment to love God with your heart, soul and mind?

2.    What are moments in your life that you came to know yourself as beloved? Did those moments help you live more fully into who you are? 

3.    What has helped you know love more fully?

Action

This week, take a moment each day to name and sit with one thing that has made you feel your belovedness. By naming the ways in which we feel beloved by God, we can allow it to permeate into our mind, body and spirit so that we can act out that love in the world. By observing God’s love, we can love in return.