Shema, Israel-- Hear O Israel-- is the first phrase of the most important commandment as articulated by Jesus in today's Gospel (Mk 12: 28- 34). "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the Lord alone!" Jesus then goes on to flesh out the commandments--- speaking of loving the Lord our God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and of loving our neighbor as ourself. We know these two great commandments well. But the "Shema"-- the greatest prayer in Judaism still, and the beginning of what Jesus says when He is asked for the "first of all commandments," is something on which we might reflect, because there is something in that phrase that is a little bit different, a little deeper, than the notion of loving the Lord and loving neighbor which we always hear. "Our God is the Lord alone!" Alone-- not first, not best, not greatest, not most important-- alone! Alone is not about balance, or having God in the right place in your life. Alone is not about finding time to pray, or read scripture or reflect, important as that is. Alone is not about living our lives in the light of the Gospel, although we do that. Alone means that our fundamental orientation is keeping the Lord as our God, as the One whom we worship, obey and love. Every decision, every action, every thought flows from that understanding of the fact that we have just one Lord and God. Our God is a jealous God, who doesn't like to share. God alone. No other gods. And yet-- and yet-- God sent His only Son into the world, to give us a human person to whom we could relate, with whom we could have a relationship. Beyond that, we have received the Holy Spirit, who enables us to feel and understand God's love. "The Lord our God is Lord alone." One God alone-- three Persons. Shema Israel!