Today’s first reading emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord and keeping his commandments, linking obedience with prolonged life and prosperity. The central commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength. This wholehearted devotion forms the foundation of the covenant relationship between God and his people. We need to internalize God’s words, embedding his commandments in our hearts. Love and commitment to God should permeate every aspect of life, guiding our actions and decisions, and fostering an enduring relationship with him based on love and faithfulness.

Is God the only Lord in our life? Who and what are the rivals of God vying for that lordship in our life? Let us search our hearts and choose to remove the blocks between our intellect and heart.

It is one thing to know and declare, but another thing to live that truth. Is this even possible, to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves? As with everything else in life, this too is a choice, our will being submitted to his. What we cannot do by our self-effort, he enables.

When we choose to love him with all that we are and all that we have, we would be able to share his love with others. When we give the first place to the Lord, he walks in and makes his home in us. We need to surrender our relationships, careers, finance, leisure activities, social interactions, hidden desires and dreams to him.

What about our loved ones, and the good things we value? The Creator of heaven and earth carries every human being and every part of his Creation in his heart.

Jesus is love incarnate. Those whom we love, struggle to love and do not love are all lovingly held within his heart. Even the people we struggle to love by our own strength are now held comfortably and securely in him. It is no longer by our strength but by his strength that we could love and live. Jesus finished the sacrificial system once and for all when he offered himself on the cross as the supreme sacrifice. Our salvation cannot be purchased by our sacrifices and rituals. All we are called to do is love. Loving our enemies becomes possible when Jesus is the One Lord of our life. Love takes over duty and obligation. Love covers everything.

PRAYER: Abba Father, thank you for giving us your Son who taught us how to love. Amen