THE HEARTBEAT OF FAITH: EMBRACING GOD’S LOVE AND SHARING IT. (Matthew 22: 34-40 and Exodus 22:20-26).

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The passage from Matthew 22: is of paramount importance to Christians; it  illuminates the essence of our faith: Love of God, of our Neighbours as Ourselves. Today’s Gospel recounts the Pharisees' attempt to test Jesus by asking him which commandment is the greatest. Jesus’ response is profound. Jesus distilled the vast mosaic of laws and teachings into two primary commandments of love. Yet, there is an intentional order in which He presents them, signaling the foundational nature of one over the other.

First, Jesus emphasizes the immense significance of loving God "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This order in which Jesus summarized the whole commandments (613 as contained in the Jewish tradition), is not arbitrary. It suggests a hierarchy of love. The primary love is our love for God, from which all other forms of love emanate. Love for God is the foundation.

When we genuinely love God, we, by extension, learn to love ourselves – not in a narcissistic or self-serving manner, but in the profound understanding and appreciation of God's image in us. True self-love, as Jesus teaches, is an acknowledgment of this divine imprint, respecting and nurturing our God-given attributes and potentials. When we deeply love and reverence God, we begin to understand our intrinsic value as His creations. This realization enables us to love ourselves. And when we love ourselves in the light of God's love, we can't help but extend that love to others, recognizing the same divine spark in them.

Only upon this foundation of loving God and understanding our worth in His eyes can we move to the second commandment: to love our neighbors as ourselves. It's no secret that our ability to extend love to others is deeply intertwined with how we view and love ourselves. If our self-love is tainted with narcissism or selfishness, our love for others will be, too. But when rooted in the divine, our love for ourselves becomes the springboard from which genuine, selfless love for others can emerge.

“With all Your Heart”: In biblical times, the heart was often considered the seat of emotions, desires, and will. When Jesus speaks of loving God with all our heart, He is referring to our passions, desires, and emotions. It means that our love for God should be fervent, sincere, and from the depths of our emotional being. Our affections should be set on Him, and our deepest desires should be aligned with His will.

“With all Your Soul”: The soul is the essence of who we are. It is the immortal part of us that transcends our physical existence. Loving God with all our soul implies an eternal and unwavering commitment. Even when faced with challenges, temptations, or doubts in our earthly journey, our soul remains anchored in its love and commitment to God. It's a love that persists beyond life's fleeting moments, suggesting a bond that is unbreakable and eternal.

“With all Your Mind (or Spirit)”: The mind represents our intellect, our thoughts, our understanding, and our discernment. To love God with all our mind means to seek Him through study, reflection, and meditation on His Word. It's an invitation to know Him more deeply, to understand His character, His teachings, and His desires for us. This intellectual pursuit leads to a deeper, more informed, and conscious love for God. It's not just an emotional response but a reasoned, thoughtful devotion.

By emphasizing these three dimensions of love – heart, soul, and mind – Jesus is essentially calling for a holistic love for God. He wants believers to love God emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. This comprehensive love ensures that every aspect of our being is aligned with God, allowing us to live out our faith authentically and with integrity.

Exodus 22:20-26 help us understand what it means to love others.  It's a beautiful passage where God provides His people with a set of moral guidelines that emphasize the importance of compassion, justice, and love for others. God wants His people to treat everyone with respect and kindness, especially those who are vulnerable and marginalized. He specifically calls on the Israelites not to mistreat foreigners, widows, or orphans. It's clear that God cares deeply for all people, and He warns of dire consequences for those who oppress the vulnerable. This passage reminds us that as God's people, we are called to be instruments of His mercy and love, spreading kindness and compassion wherever we go.

Therefore, we are called to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing our value and worth. From this vantage point, we can then radiate that love outward, ensuring our interactions are not tainted by the pitfalls of self-centeredness but are instead a testament to God’s unending love.

In a world where the lines between self-love and selfishness often blur, Jesus provides us with a clarifying perspective. To genuinely follow Christ's path, we must first acknowledge the divine within us, steering clear of narcissism, and then let that realization fuel our love for the world around us.

 

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father, source of all love and light,

Guide our hearts to truly understand Your greatest commandments.

Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind,

To see ourselves as reflections of Your divine image,

And to cherish that same divine spark in our neighbors.

 

Teach us, Lord, to embrace the depth of Your love for us,

That we might extend it selflessly to all those we encounter.

In moments of doubt or distraction, remind us of our intrinsic worth,

And guide our actions in the service of love, compassion, and understanding.

 

In the wisdom of Your teachings, may we find our path,

Uniting our love for You, ourselves, and our fellow creations.

Through Christ our Lord, the embodiment of Your love,

Amen.🙏🙏🙏

 


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