A Collect to Strive First and Foremost to Love

God of grace and mercy, who has not dealt to humanity what it deserves, help us strive to love well above all things, that we might not become mired in useless details or focus on that which is secondary, but would fulfill all that your Law has required by devoting ourselves to care and connection with all those in whom you have placed in our path, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns forever with you and the Holy Spirit in joyous and perfect union. Amen. ‘He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”‘ – Matthew 22:37-40