Love and do whatever you want!

29th october 2023

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment in the law is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself”. There are three movements of love: to God, to oneself and to one’s neighbor.

These movements of love work like a tripod: if one of them fails, the other two cannot stand on their own. Today we’re going to take a closer look at love of neighbor, which makes us brothers and sisters.

I. Loving our brothers and sisters… what is it?

– It’s a gift and a challenge.

Because we are children of God, we are also brothers and sisters to one another. But it’s everyone’s choice whether or not to take this on in their lives…

– It is an essential part of Christian life.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). The Christian life is a relationship with God, but it is also a relationship with our brothers and sisters.

– It is a commandment.

“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34

II. Why love?

– Because that’s what God does. “Like Father, like son”… God is Love. Being created in God’s image, we are made to love.

– Because God doesn’t want his children to be despised. When we don’t love someone, we are not only despising them as a brother, but we are also despising the Father who created them.

– Because my brother is worthy of love. Love is the only relationship worthy of the human person. Everything else is always too little.

– Because it prepares us for heaven. When we love, we already begin to live Eternal Life, which is nothing more than eternal and full Love.

III. How to love our brothers and sisters?

– Decide to love. “To love is to give everything, and to give oneself.” (St. Therese) It’s an act of the will, not a feeling. It’s different from “liking”.

– To share. Giving the other what is in my heart. In trust.

– Offering myself. Putting the gifts and talents that God has given me at the service of others.

– To sympathize. “Shared suffering is shared, shared joy is multiplied!” – To take upon myself the pain of others, to suffer with them, to relieve them through presence and care.

NSS – Next small step

– Take an interest in and get to know the people you live with, and make an effort to call them by their first names.

– Every day during the week, try to make ONE gesture of love for your neighbor: by sharing, offering, being compassionate…

– Pray for someone you don’t like.