Love, pure and simple

Much of the world, it seems, need a reminder of the core of our Christian faith:  Love.  Pure and simple:  Love.  Love received…love lived…love shared.

“Teach me your ways, O Lord” (Psalm 25:4) This prayerful request should be on our lips these days as we face the challenge of COVID-19 and the tension and destructive violence resulting from the recent racially related human tragedies.  We prayerfully call upon Jesus Crucified to help us love as He loves, in both word and deed, in good times and tragic times.  Our love for God intimately involves a down-to-earth love for neighbor and self, as imperfect as we each are.

In the Gospel I’m reflecting on today (Mark 12:28-34), one of the Scribes comes to Jesus and asks Him the truly basic question: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  No doubt this is the question which goes to the heart of Jesus’ life and ministry.  It’s interesting that Jesus’ response cites the command from the Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-5):  “Love God with your whole being”…and then He joins to it the corresponding command from the Book of Leviticus (19:18):  “Love your neighbor as yourself”.   Jesus combines the two commandments into one:  the love of God, neighbor, and self, go hand in hand.

In St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:8-15) we see St. Paul putting the words of Jesus into practice.  Love is unselfish.  Love involves sacrifice, a dying to self, a genuine living witness in both word and deed.  Love is about life, a sharing of God’s life; a positive spirit of energy and vitality that transforms both people and situations, even suffering and death!