Love is the measure of faith

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Ex 22,20-26; 1 Thess 1,5-10; Mt 22, 34-40

Just as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the proof of loving God is in the love of neighbour. Love is the measure of faith. Love, the various corporeal and spiritual acts of mercy are an outward expression of our faith, of how much we love God.

Flowing from the core of our being

In his reply to the Pharisees' question, Jesus mentions love of God first not simply to follow an order of priority but because it is the heart from which everything else flows. Loving others then becomes the visible sign of this love. The Christian then gives witness of this love for God by the love that he or she shows to the world and to others, to his family, to work colleagues.

Art of Christian Love

Nowadays everything is described as an art: the art of eating, the art of relaxation, the art of making friends. Now someone once described Christian loving as an art. So what makes this art of loving Christian?

Loving Jesus in the other person

As Christians, we love others not just out of philanthropy or simply because that is what justice demands or because it is fashionable. We love others because we see Jesus in the other person. It is a personal love and a love for the individual person, driven by the truth that there is Jesus hidden in the other person.

Admits of no exceptions or degrees

This means that there can never be any exceptions to our love. I cannot say that I love one person a lot and another person much less. I cannot say that I love only those who agree with me or my opinions and then simply respect the others who disagree with me. We do not choose the neighbour whom we are called to love, as Jesus tells another lawyer with a similar question. Rather, the neighbour is whoever is there next to me and needs my love.

Being the first ones to love

There is a challenge that we must all live up to and this is the challenge of being the first ones to love. Being the first one in any situation to love the other person because that person is Jesus and without excluding anyone. What a big difference, what a revolution of love this can bring about!

Is concrete: wishes the other well and is one with him or her

Loving others as Jesus invites us, or rather, commands us to do, is a very practical thing. He commands us to love our neighbour as ourselves. This means that even before simply doing good to others, we must even wish well to others. We are called to be one with the other, which is not something merely sentimental but very concrete. If my brother or sister, my neighbour is happy, I must be happy too with him or her even if I feel like being grumpy. If he or she is sad because something negative has happened to him or her, then I must share the same feelings even if it is more natural for me to feel otherwise.

The Christian loves the enemy

A characteristic of Christian love is the love of the enemy. This is, obviously shocking. However our love for the neighbour cannot be complete if it does not involve also love of the enemy. I am not inventing these words but I am quoting Jesus himself in the same Gospel: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (5:44); Forgive seventy times seven times (18, 22). This is the way that the Christian can change the world and can change the entire culture until finally love can become reciprocal. This means that not only do I love but that I would also be loved back.

Students at the school of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we learn from her how to observe these two commandments: love of God with all our heart, soul and mind, and may we learn how to show this love in concrete actions by loving our neighbour as ourselves.