More Than A Feeling
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we witness a profound moment where Jesus is asked a question meant to reveal the heart of the law: “Which commandment is the first of all?” In His answer, Jesus sums up all of the commandments, saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Then, He adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments are inseparable and serve as a foundational element of our Christian faith.
Jesus calls us to a love that is not partial but complete. To love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength means that God must be at the center of our lives. This is not about just saying prayers or attending Mass on Sundays but it is about integrating our faith into every part of who we are. Our decisions, our work, our interactions with others, and even our thoughts are places where we can express this love for God. In many ways, this command challenges us because it demands that we move beyond superficial faith. It asks us to examine where we place our trust, our energy, and our time. Are we prioritizing our relationship with God? Do we see Him as our true strength and foundation? Or do we let other distractions take the place where only God should be?
The second part of Jesus’ response is equally challenging: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving our neighbor as ourselves means treating others with the dignity, compassion, and mercy we would desire. It means seeing others as God sees them, acknowledging their worth, and recognizing their humanity. In the world around us, we encounter countless people, some are easy to love, and others not necessarily so. Yet Jesus asks us to look past divisions and see our neighbors through the eyes of God. His call is to forgive those who hurt us, to care for the needy and the most vulnerable, and to show kindness even if those who need that kindness make it hard. When we love our neighbor, we make visible the love of God in the world.
Jesus does not separate love of God from love of neighbor. He intertwines them so completely that they have become inseparable. We are taught in the First Letter of John, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). This is why Jesus calls these the greatest commandments. To truly love God, we must love our neighbor, and to truly love our neighbor, we must love God. Each time we show charity (love) for another, we draw closer to God, and each time we draw closer to God, we grow in love for those around us. Love is more than a feeling or emotion; it is an active choice, a daily decision to live as the Lord Jesus commands us.
The Gospel invites us to examine our own lives. Are we striving to love God with our whole being? Are we actively showing love and compassion to our neighbors, especially those most in need? The world needs witnesses of this love; a love that heals, forgives, and unites. Let us pray for the grace to live out these commandments, asking God to help us grow in love for Him and for one another. May we become instruments of His love in a world that desperately needs it, carrying His light to all those we meet.
Holy Hour for Vocations
Next Sunday, November 10th, CTK will be hosting the Springfield deanery’s holy hour for vocations. The holy hour will begin in the church at 6:30PM with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Please come and pray for all those who are discerning God’s call in their lives, whatever it may be, especially those who are discerning a call to sacred order or the religious life.
Speaking of loving one another…
This Tuesday is election day and the reality is that come Wednesday (or whenever the election is called), just about half of the country won’t be happy. Politics is not an exception to the Gospel. Loving God means also loving my neighbor whose politics are different than mine; I don’t have to agree with my neighbor, in fact I can believe that my neighbor is completely wrong, but I still must love my neighbor. Say some extra prayers for our nation this week, particularly for peace and civility. This may sound cliché, but it’s true: in the end, whether the donkey or the elephant wins, each of us still belongs to the Lamb.
Blessings to you and yours for the week ahead!
Father Chris House