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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