"If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the world generally discards……… We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, adjusting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives….But do not delude yourself, if you do not love your neighbor, you do not love God. St John says it best: “If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen”… You do not have to “like” everyone but you better love them and we love others by how we treat them regardless of their behavior – Love is a choice not a “feeling” – Choose it!"

Gospel Text: (Mt 22:34-40)

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

 

Reflect, today, upon the high calling you have been given to love God above all and to love your neighbor with that same love that you have for God. If you find loving someone is difficult, pray for the wisdom you need to remain faithful to them in God’s love alone. And if you find your love challenged, rely upon our Lord to lead you and to give you the words you need when you need them the most.