Ex. 22:20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40
The Law of Love
This week’s readings can be summarized by St. James’ words: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and the widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (1:27). Christianity is not a religion per se; it is a relationship. A relationship with the living God, who is in relationship with human beings. The readings stress the necessity of an active, saving God and a human response in the form of love, both for God and for all his creatures. God’s saving love has made us who and what we are. Within us, therefore, is a divine spark, a transcendent principle, a ‘grace’, that makes us capable of a love for others that exceeds normal human dimensions.
The first reading recalls the inhuman condition the children of Israel found themselves in Egypt. The Lord heard their cry, rescued them, and brought them out of the land of slavery to the promised land. Therefore, the children of Israel should treat the strangers among them with kindness. “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the Land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.” Israel’s own experience as aliens in Egypt is unique among the nations. Widows and orphans were a special concern in most societies. But there God himself is the divine ‘kinsman’ who will come to their aid. God has saved us in his everlasting love; therefore, we must hold him above every other object and show love and concern for his people.
In the gospel, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment, 613 of them. Christ summarized them as loving God and loving neighbor. He places love for God first, not because he is worthy of special love, but because our love for others is strongest when it flows from our love for God. That love of God is possible only because his love has first placed that spark, that grace, within us. We must give God total love, a love that dominates our emotions, directs our thoughts, and drives our actions. All religion starts with love, which is total commitment to God.
Our love for God must issue in love for men. St. John reminds us, “If anyone says, ‘I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.” (I Jn. 4:20-21). Only when we love God does man become lovable. Genesis reminds us that God made man in his image and likeness. (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). Human love is firmly grounded in God’s love. This is true religion rooted in the loving relationship between God and human beings.
The test of how we love God is demonstrated in how we relate to others in love. How do we receive and relate to people that we are not comfortable with? How have we contributed to alleviating the sufferings of people around us, especially the immigrants, the suffering, the voiceless, those unfairly treated, the incarcerated, and those with special needs? Can we forgive others because God has forgiven us? Do we do unto others as we want them to do unto us? When we remember our humble beginnings, we can easily accommodate others’ insecurities, limitations, and shortcomings. We are who we are today because God was good and gracious to us. We must treat others accordingly. But when we forget, we begin to feel we achieved our greatness on our own. Christ commanded us: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:33, 35).
God will answer our prayers and strengthen our relationship with him if we show kindness to others. By “Releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say Here I am.” (Is. 58:6-9).
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP
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