Focus

Set aside a moment to contemplate love; ask ourselves, what do we truly know of it.

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Read

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Reflect

What does it mean to love anyone with all our heart, soul, and mind? My first thought is, can anyone really obey the first commandment? No reservations, no conditions, only love in every way that a person could possibly relate to another—heart, soul, and mind. We might find two mysteries in contemplating this absolute love; first, what could that love possibly be like, and second, what would a world in which that love is expressed look like. Might we suppose, for a moment, that we’ve all fallen short of fully knowing this kind of love and therefore haven’t truly experienced it yet?

Actually the second commandment is far more approachable, for it is, in a sense, merely an equation with things we can understand on both sides. How do I love myself? Does it equal how I love my neighbor? We often fail at this commandment too, but we can, with introspection, judge ourselves within it. How can we possibly judge ourselves within the first commandment? God knows we fall short of this understanding, and because of that, sent Jesus, his son, to redeemed those lost to this life-giving mystery. Jesus provided us ‘the way’ by his example, and in his resurrection proved himself to be the Truth. In him hangs the key to the mystery that the prophets pointed towards, and by following him we will find what is impossible for ourselves to do by heart, soul, and mind. We can find absolute love only in Christ.

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Pray

Holy God, we call upon you in ignorance of your glory, the shortcomings of our love, and the limitations of the human mind in asking you to forgive, restore, and redeem us. Give us this day the courage to love our neighbor as ourselves. As we grow in our human love, may we be given glimpse of the absolute beauty of your holy love. Amen.

Go with God!