LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. 

"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,

"Which is the first of all the commandments?" 

Jesus replied, "The first is this:

Hear, O Israel!

The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, 

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

The second is this:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these." 

The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.

You are right in saying,

'He is One and there is no other than he.'

And 'to love him with all your heart,

with all your understanding,

with all your strength,

and to love your neighbor as yourself'

is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,

he said to him,

"You are not far from the kingdom of God." 

And no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Mark 12: 28 - 34).

Sunday 3rd November 2024 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time. 

Should it be very hard to love Abba Father above everything?   Treating our neighbor exactly the way you want to be treated does not appear an impossible feat. 

Today's teaching of Jesus is not a suggestion but a command. 

Moses concluded his teaching on the love of God thus:

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,

with all your heart,

and with all your soul,

and with all your strength. 

Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today." (Deuteronomy 6: 2 - 6).

"Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

This means: Pay great attention to these words. 

Below is God's gold standard in loving us:

"I am always patient and kind with you. I do not compare you unfairly to other people. I treat you as a unique and irrepeatable person. I don't dishonor you. I respect your uniqueness. I don't burst into anger when you sin nor do I  keep a record of your wrongs.  My love does not delight in evil but rejoices in your successes and accomplishments.   It always protects, always  trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (Cf 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). 

God wants us to apply this standard to our neighbor. 

When we obey God and make Him the top priority in our universe, we enjoy a full and rich life. 

"Moses spoke to the people, saying:

“Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life."  (Deuteronomy 6: 2).

Our response should be:

"I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer."  (Psalm 18: 2 - 3). 

Do not be readers but doer of the word. 

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;

and my Father will love him and we will come to him."  (John 14: 23). 

A few examples of Saints who loved God in their own ways:

The Little Flower, St Therese of the Child Jesus may put her doctrine of Love this way: "I, Therese I am incapable of doing great things. I am not a scholar nor can I boast of great gifts of grace. I am going to do the little things with great love."

Therese lived this doctrine. It pleased Jesus so much that He awarded Therese Doctor of the Church. 

St Catherine of Siena may put her doctrine of love this way:

"I will seek to know the Will of God in everything. I will endeavor to do it. In the Will of God is our peace." Jesus was also very pleased with Catherine and made her a great teacher in the Church with the title of Doctor of the Church. 

St Ignatius Loyola sought loving God with all his heart, mind and soul through doing everything "For the Greater Glory of God." 

Whether you choose St Therese's "Way of Love" or St Catherine's "Will of God," you will find that all ways lead to Jesus.

The masters of spirituality list the Seven Daily Habits of Saints thus:

1. Prayer

2. Word of God

3. Eucharist

4. Reconciliation

5. Examination of Conscience

6. Faith sharing (ministry)

7. Spiritual reading

"I love you, O Lord, my strength,

O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer." (Responsorial Psalm 18). 

November is the Month dedicated to praying for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. 

"If during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” (St Paul of the Cross).

Remember the Poor Souls in Purgatory daily in your prayers.

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