“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Thursday, 8th June 2017.
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Tob6: 10-11, 7:1, 9-14, 18:4-9;
Ps 127: 1-5;
Mk 12: 28-34.
LOVE AS YOU ARE LOVED
The Gospel summarizes the personality of Jesus in a single word, LOVE. The Lord points out that the whole law can be condensed into two commandments: the first and more important consists in unconditional love of God; the second is a consequence and result of the first, When man is loved, God is loved, for man is the image of God.
Love moved Jesus to lift the downtrodden, befriend the outcasts, heal the wounded, set the prisoners free and sacrifice His life on the cross to redeem us from the slavery of sin. God’s love is unconditional. Jesus by His words and deeds encourages us to practice this ‘LOVE’ for our salvation and also for the salvation of this world. And this is the Christian identity that should be lived by all who sincerely follow Jesus. Then only we become true Christians - ‘Christ-like’.
Loving God is the best thing we can do for ourselves and, therefore, is the key to loving ourselves. Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves means that everything we do for others should help them to love God with their whole heart, soul, mind and strength. This is done by our words, but especially by our influence. When we love God with everything, our love of God will be contagious. Others will see our love of God, our passion for Him, our desire for Him, our devotion and our commitment. They will see it and be attracted to it. Witnessing this sort of love inspires others and makes them want to imitate our love.
Prayer: Lord, help me to follow these commandments of love. Help me to love You with my whole being. And in that love of You, help me to share that love with others. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
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