The reciting of the Shema constitutes, from time immemorial, the very heart of Israel's prayer. Jesus himself, in Mark's Gospel, quotes the Shema in his answer to a question, raised by a scribe, concerning the first commandment of the Law. Rabbinic tradition places this reciting in a pedagogical framework of blessings and presents it as a life-programme for every Jew. The author invites us to listen to that tradition; she shows how Jesus has lived up to its utmost demands and how, following in his footsteps, all Christians - and most especially all consecrated persons - are invited to tend to its fulfilment in their own lives.
