The Gospels are replete with several examples of where the Scribes and the Pharisees disagreed with Jesus over some theological or pastoral matter. Surprisingly in today’s Gospel, both Jesus and the scribes seem to agree on something.
Both parties agree that one of the most important calls for us here on earth is to love God with all our heart, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus tells the Scribes tongue-in-cheek, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God!”
Active Love
Combining the first reading from the book of the Prophet Hosea and the Gospel, we come to learn that our love for God is not some abstract theoretical notion, rather our love of God is tied at the hip with an active love of our neighbor – what the Prophet Hosea said reaching out with compassion to the orphan. The two commandments in the gospel differ in the intensity of the love required of us – God is first to be loved with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength – in other words, the totality of our lives. Yet at the same time, we learn that the pure and total love of God is performed through the love of our neighbor. The love of God is caught up in the love of humanity! I cannot tire reminding you of the words of Saint John of the Cross who said, “In the evening of our life we will be judged by how much we loved.”
Living out God's Love
Our deceased friend the Late Jim Orcutt next door at My Brothers Keeper created a simple mission for the organization — "To bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those in need." The ministry delivers furniture and food to those in need without asking any questions. Sometimes it is the gestures we perform that tell others that we deeply love our God, and it is that love of God that we live out through what we do in support of others. There are countless testimonies where people came to know the love of God for them simply through gestures performed by someone else. The gesture made them realize how God was close and cared so much for them.
Love is a Choice
Years back as a family life minister for the Archdiocese of Kampala, I was invited to attend a Marriage Encounter Weekend. The “Weekend” is primarily meant for married couples, but chaplains are also required to attend and write reflections about the themes of the Weekend. One big lesson I came away with that weekend was that “love is a decision” one makes, and it is not a mere feeling. We live in times where feelings tend to drive a lot of things and that can be problematic. A love founded on only feelings isn’t solid at all because feelings can be lost. One needs to strike a good balance between the heart and the mind, for love to be well grounded. If you don’t balance your feelings with a decision or a choice you make in life, your love whether in marriage, in friendships, or for your faith or love for God will always be shaky. It takes a decision for love to be purified and to mature.
Active Performance of God's Love
This season of Lent is a good time for each one of us to continuously ask ourselves: how actively am I taking care of “the orphan” – as prophet Hosea taught? Almsgiving is an active performance of God’s love. This season is also a suitable time to ask ourselves: how much have I committed my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength to God? May this Lent be a time of renewal and truly drawing closer to God. Amen.
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