The two greatest commandments are: to love God and to love our neighbor. The hardest times are to love when it is impossible to love and to love in spite of rejection. Our greatest desire one day should be to be in heaven with the Lord forever, and to be true to our primary calling as Christians to walk in holiness. Therefore, in this teaching of the Lord, we are shown the path to holiness. The word of God says “what good is it that a man gains the whole world but loses his soul”. In his unconditional love, God desires to save our souls. The Lord himself proved this when he gave up his life on the cross, to save our souls. Who are we then to judge our brother, sister or neighbor and put forth conditions in the way we love. Today’s first reading confirms this: “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.” Unconditional love through redemptive suffering is the path to holiness.

PRAYER: Abba Father, fill me with your unending love so that I can share the same for the salvation of others. Amen.