What Does Love Got to Do With It?

The Gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus saying the greatest commandments are to “love
God with all your heart, soul, and mind,” and to “to love your neighbor as yourself.” Mathew 25 ties this love of God to Love of neighbor and essentially makes them one commandment. And the Good
Samaritan parable explains who Jesus says our neighbor is. The commandment is born out of
Deuteronomy 10:12 when Moses declares you are “to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul.” And Jesus says in John 13:24-25,

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

St. Paul adds in Romans 13:8, “the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

It’s clear that in today’s modern society, most people’s priorities are not driven by this commandment.
There are obvious examples like road rage, violence, war, and even digital bullying and bragging. There are also less obvious examples of misplaced priorities with so many families living beyond their means, racking up debt, and literally falling apart though rising levels of divorce and estranged children. A recent study found More than one-quarter of young adults are estranged from one or both parents. Sometimes it takes real effort and work to love someone. Making such effort has brings about positive outcomes, while failing to do so has negative consequences.

The modern focus on material possessions is fueled in part by digital and social media. We try to keep
up with our “successful” neighbor instead of working for the good of our neighbors in need. Pope
Benedict XVI wrote that almsgiving

represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The force of attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: “You cannot serve God and mammon.

This idea of self-denial permeates the Christian way of life, not just in Lent, but year-round. Sacrifice
Both conflict with strangers and family have roots in misplaced priorities. If one truly was making an
effort to Love God and neighbor, then we would be much more willing to put-up with perceived slights, being treated unfairly, aggressive driving, contrary political opinions, and differences of opinion between couples or with parents and children. Jesus showed us how to love by example, by making sacrifice. He demonstrated love by washing feet, embracing the sick, and giving His life. We are called to love one another my sacrificing part of ourselves. We might be called to sacrifice our time, our attention, our money, or our desire for pleasure, happiness, winning or justice. In Ephesians 5: Saint Paul says we are to “live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us” and “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We are called to not just be nice to each other, but to serve one another. In order to serve someone, you must respect them and value them as a person. This respect and value is too often lacking in our discourse and actions.

Admonish the Sinner

Christ gave us the greatest example of Love and yet he did not fail to speak the truth, call out injustice,
and call people to repent and stop sinning. This itself is an act of love. That is why admonishing the
sinner is called a Spiritual Work of Mercy. Yet this loving admonishment is very different than emotional conflict and desire to win rather than truly longing for the good of the other. We can passionately disagree about the charged moral issues of the day with those who do not follow the Chruch’s teachings. However, we are called to do so in love and charity, willing the good of the other. Yes, calling out any attack on the Truth, but also praying for and working for the other person to come to know that truth in charity.

Jesus Commands Again, and Again That We Love

Jesus reinforces the command to love God and neighbor as if he is hitting us over the head with it. He
says it is the “greatest commandment.” He repeats it and says, “I give you a new commandment.” Even more significantly, but sometimes forgotten, people should notice this love we have for others. Jesus says, “this is how all will know that you are my disciples.” We should be so full of love for others that it should make us stand out among society. That is quite the challenge for personal reflection. If this is the greatest commandment, then it should naturally flow that our priorities should flow from this commandment.