“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.”  – Mark 12:30-31

     “When you love and give, never forget to leave something for yourself.” Maybe someone has given you this advice after you gave everything and still got hurt in the end. Maybe he or she is teaching you to love yourself more. I understand that. God’s call to love is always three-fold, involving Him, others and you.

       While I agree that you should always love yourself, I disagree with the above advice. Because I believe that loving should not be afraid to be emptied. Isn’t that what God did when He left the comforts of heaven to be a helpless little Baby in a manger? Isn’t that what Jesus did for us on the cross? He emptied Himself.

         We are like power banks, a storage of God’s love ready to give life to people running on low batt. A power bank is not afraid to be emptied. All it needs to do is to connect to the socket of God’s love, where real and unlimited love overflows. Tired of giving and loving? Get recharged by the love of God. It never runs out. Velden Lim (veldenlim@gmail.com)

Reflection: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears does not reach perfection in love. We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:18)

Jesus, disturb me when all I care about is self-preservation. Teach me to love selflessly.

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs, pray for us.

Paul writes from prison. He does not let his imprisonment get him down. He does what he can to continue to build up the communities he has established by writing to them and encouraging them. Paul has a one-track mind — that is, to preach the Gospel no matter what situation he finds himself in.

8 Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy: if we have died with him we shall also live with him; 12 if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen. 15 Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.

Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R: Teach me your ways, O Lord.

4 Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 8 Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R) 10 All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 14 The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. (R)

The greatest commandment is to love. It underpins all the prescriptive elements of the Law. For a Christian, love is the measure of the Law. If the Law fails to call us to a deeper love of God and one another, then it is not doing what it is supposed to do. Let us measure our actions by the law of love and reject everything that does not help us to love more.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

28 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. 33 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.” 34 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.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

THE SECRET OF BEING NEAR

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In contrast to that of yesterday, our Gospel today is more positive and affirmative: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Jesus said this to the scribe who engaged Him in a discussion regarding the greatest commandment of the Law. Jesus gave His approval to the scribe’s insight affirming Jesus’declaration.

       But Jesus actually gave two answers to the original question. While the scribe wanted to know “which is the first of all the commandments,” Jesus did not only reply to that question (the answer to which was obvious anyway). He also added a second commandment as part of His answer. The first one — the greatest commandment — should already suffice as an answer to the scribe’s question. But it was as though Jesus wanted to make it clear that the first commandment (love of God) cannot stand by itself. The second one is needed to keep the first one grounded in a concrete expression. Love of neighbor is the manifestation of the love of God.  Complementarily, love of God is the foundation for love of neighbor.

       In other words, “it takes two” to fulfill the greatest commandment. Just like in everyday life, there are many ordinary but useful objects which always go by pairs (jeans, socks, scissors, etc.). Even in our liturgy today, we have a pair of saints: Marcellinus and Peter.

       So now Jesus teaches us that the commandment of love works in tandem: love of God and love of neighbor. May we never break apart Jesus’ great commandment of love. Only then will He commend us, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you show your love for God through your neighbor?

Help me to put my love for You in action, Lord. Create in me a compassionate and loving heart so that I may love my neighbor more. Amen.